Finance committee passes UW capital projects

The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee has voted affirmatively for the 2003-05 capital budget, which includes $135 million in state-funded bonding for projects on the UW–Madison campus. The budget still requires approval from the full Legislature and the governor.

The capital budget is the state’s biennial spending plan for construction and maintenance. The university’s portion of the budget pays for projects approved in previous biennia, and ongoing construction and maintenance, but no new projects are included.

Two projects, the new Microbial Sciences Building, and an addition and renovation to the Mechanical Engineering Building, were enumerated in the 2001-03 capital budget and approved by the committee for funding in 2003-05. The Microbial Sciences project will use $55 million in general program revenue (state tax dollars) and $45 million from gift funds; the Mechanical Engineering project will use $23 million in GPR and $10 million from gifts.

The committee also provided $8.2 million ($4.8 million GPR and $3.4 million non-GPR) for the second phase of the Integrated Dairy Program, which will upgrade dairy facilities on campus and in Arlington and Marshfield, and a $5 million systemwide appropriation for classroom renovation.

The committee reduced funding for the all-agency maintenance account from $210 million to $180 million, a move that cancels a $30 million increase over the 2001-03 budget.

A decision by the Joint Finance Committee on the West Campus Cogeneration Facility has not yet been made. The natural gas-fired cogeneration facility, which would produce 150 megawatts of electricity, steam heat and chilled water air conditioning, would be co-owned by Madison Gas and Electric, UW–Madison and the state. The facility is proposed for the 600 block of Walnut Street, adjacent to the existing heating plant.

The capital budget is considered separately from the operating budget. The Joint Finance Committee passed the UW System’s portion of the operating budget on May 15. The budget, which includes a $250 million budget cut, awaits further action by the Legislature.