River Campus gets $1.75 million

State and city funding for the River Campus arts school remains in limbo, but that hasn't stopped federal money from flowing to the project.

Congress approved $1.75 million in additional funding for Southeast Missouri State University's planned arts campus. The money is expected to be available early next year, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said Wednesday.

It comes on top of two federal grants totaling more than $2.8 million announced earlier this year. Those grants include $2.6 million over three years to develop a regional museum and $255,634 for construction of hiking and biking trails on the grounds of a former Catholic seminary in downtown Cape Girardeau, where the university wants to build the visual and performing arts school.

The latest federal funding is split almost evenly between programming and technical planning for River Campus construction, including the performance hall, said Dr. Pauline Fox, vice president of administration and enrollment management.

Fox and other school officials welcomed the additional money.

Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican, said she and U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., had asked for $4.5 million for the project, but she still views the latest funding as a success. "We got $1.75 million in tight budget times," she said.

If Congress hadn't had to divert money to homeland security because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the River Campus project might have garnered more federal money, Emerson said.

The project is suffering from state and city funding woes.

"At least it gets the ball rolling," Emerson said of the federal funds. "That money is not tied to any state money or anything else. That is stand-alone money."

More to be sought

Emerson said she would continue to seek more federal money for the project, but none of it can go for actual construction. "You can't use federal funds for that," she said.

Southeast officials insist that state funding remains vital for the project to become reality. The university wants the state to pay nearly half the cost of the $36 million project with the remainder coming from Cape Girardeau and private donations. The city funding, nearly $9 million that would come from its motel-restaurant tax, remains blocked by a lawsuit.

Businessman James L. Drury sued the city in April 1999, claiming the 1-cent hike in the city's motel-restaurant tax approved by voters in November 1998 was invalid because the city ordinance placing the issue on the ballot was faulty.

Lower courts sided with Drury, prompting the city to appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on Jan. 8. A ruling is expected in March.

If Drury prevails, the city would have to hold another election or develop other options for funding its share of the cost.

State funding is a major concern too. Nearly $12 million of the $16.55 million in funding approved by state lawmakers could be held up indefinitely because of a tight state budget.

State budget director Brian Long has said the financial woes could continue into the next fiscal year. That could delay the bulk of state funding until July 2003 at the earliest.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123