Crushing weight of building repairs hurts state universities
10:52 p.m. Thursday, November 16, 2006
Emporia — University buildings around Kansas are crumbling as the the board of regents, and university leaders are calling on the state for help.
The Kansas Board of Regents reported today that universities around the state are crumbling under $727 million worth of unattended repairs.
The cost of fixing up universities around Kansas is no drop in the bucket. It takes $84 million a year just to maintain buildings.
But with the state only pouring $15 million into repairs this year, the Kansas board of regents says the funds to fix up campuses have dried up.
"We're just in a situation where the resources available from state support dedicated to maintain on an annual basis, has for many years, been too small a revenue stream," said Reginald Robison, Kansas Board of Regents President.
With the six state universities lacking the funds to keep up with repairs, there are now $727 million worth of back logged repairs going far beyond the cracked windows and chipped paint.
"So many of the problems are behind the scenes. They are things that don't immediately meet your eyes," said Ray Hauke, Emporia State spokesman.
But there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Ray Hauke says the university was allowed to keep interest earnings from tuition and fees to put towards repairs.
"It didn't happen over night. It only gets worse as time goes on and the public has an investment in these buildings that it wants to protect," said Hauke.
The Kansas Board of Regents is also pitching, urging legislatures to make a room for a down payment for repairs in their 2008 budget...to help stop the crumbling buildings.
"These are assets that belong to the people of Kansas and it's irresponsible to let these assets deteriorate," said Robison.
The two state schools with the highest repair price tags are Kansas State and KU, each with more than $200 million worth of repairs.
Emporia State is facing a price tag of more than $44 million.
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