Sioux City Journal, IA
04-29-07
House approves Regents bond plan
By Charlotte Eby, Journal Des Moines Bureau
DES MOINES -- Iowa's Regents universities would be allowed to bond for $131.4
million for capital improvements under a plan that cleared the Iowa House Friday.
Rep. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington, who led the bill to passage in the House,
said it is similar to the close to $120 million in bonding Regents were allowed in
2004.
"It's nothing new that we're doing this year," Cohoon said.
The measure cleared the house on a 51-44 vote.
House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said if the state were
truly interested in supporting the Regents they would have allocated the money
from the state's infrastructure fund.
"This is not good budgeting. We should be doing pay-as-you-go," Rants said.
Under the proposal:
-- Iowa State University would see $53.9 million for chemistry building facilities.
-- The University of Northern Iowa would get a total of $17.6 million for two
separate projects: $5.8 million for an electrical distribution project and $11.8
million for the renovation of Sabin Hall for classroom and office space for the
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
-- The University of Iowa would see $35.9 million, with $18.7 million going to the
College of Public Health Academic Building, $4.2 million to renovate the old
music building, and $13 million for renewal and HVAC modernization of the
Pentacrest.
-- Another $24 million would be dedicated for fire and environmental safety,
deferred maintenance, and campus security.
Approval in the House sends the measure to the Senate for consideration.