Governor: Southeast is in line for bond issues

Missouri's governor on Wednesday identified $12 million in repair and renovation projects for Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers College that will depend on legislative approval for bonds.

Gov. Jay Nixon said during an appearance in Cape Girardeau that about $10 million could go to Southeast and $1.9 million could go to Three Rivers for various upgrades in 2015. The money for the projects would be part of $200 million in bonds to be split between the local higher education institutions and others throughout the state.

Projects have been submitted to the state by colleges and universities throughout this year after an approval by the Legislature to extend bonding capacity. Nixon said the state's ability to issue the bonds comes from fiscal responsibility in Missouri.

"All of the budget belt-tightening we've done over the past six years has helped us come out of the recession better than most," Nixon said. "But it has also resulted in a backlog of needed repair and renovation projects on our college campuses."

At Southeast, the board of regents approved its list of renovation projects in October. If the bonds are issued, the university plans to upgrade electrical, heating and cooling systems, improve accessibility, renovate classrooms, replace windows and improve clinic space used to treat communication disorders in the Grauel Building.

Renovations to Brandt and Crisp halls also would be funded by the bonds, and any leftover funds would go toward addressing needed infrastructure work throughout the campus, according to the university.

Three Rivers, according to the governor's office, would use $1.9 million to renovate classrooms and make upgrades in four other buildings on its main campus in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, including the Crisp Technology Center, the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, the Education Building and the Academic Resource Commons.

The funding split in the allocation of the bonds is based on the percentages of total higher education appropriations received by universities and colleges from the state in fiscal year 2015,

The University of Missouri-Columbia already has received bond issuance approval for a renovation of its engineering building, a $38.5 million project, Nixon said.

At Missouri State University, $19 million could go into several renovation projects, the Springfield News-Leader reported in November.

Nixon said Wednesday he believes approval will move forward quickly once the Legislature opens its next session in January, because the bulk of the process for the bonding package and the work of the colleges and universities is mostly finished.

"We have spent the off season, so shall we say here, trying to align those projects," he said.

Overall, the Legislature increased bonding capacity to $600 million during the last session.

The other $400 million not designated for higher education campus improvements will go to maintenance and repair projects at other state facilities.

Nixon addressed the local projects during an appearance at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau during a Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Grow Strong event Wednesday. The members-only luncheon meeting for business leaders was opened for media during the governor's remarks on the proposed bond issuance.

eragan@semissourian.com

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