UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS EAGERLY AWAIT OUTCOME OF ELECTION

Southeast Missouri State University officials will know sooner than expected whether funding for a long-awaited College of Business building will be available this year.

Gov. Mel Carnahan decided this week to place a $250 million general obligation bond issue, which was approved by the General Assembly this year, on the Aug. 2 primary election ballot. There was some speculation that Carnahan would wait until the general election in November to put the issue before voters.

At stake are a number of building projects on college campuses around the state as well as new prison space. If the bond package is approved, $88 million will be spent on prisons, providing a net increase of 3,250 beds.

Art Wallhausen, assistant to Southeast Missouri State President Kala Stroup, said university officials will do their part to support the bond proposal, which needs a simple majority for passage. Information will focus on the importance of the business building to Southeast and the region, and the need for improved facilities on campuses around Missouri.

"We'll do the best we can to get the information out," said Wallhausen. "We are interested in telling as many people as we can why we need the business building and why this is an appropriate way to do it. I think we will want to focus on the fact this is good for the state and the whole area of higher education, but certainly we have a vested interest in it."

If the proposal passes, $12.3 million will be used for the business building.

Also with a vested interest is the city of Fredericktown, one of five finalists for a $53 million women's prison in eastern Missouri. The 1,200-bed prison would provide 300 permanent jobs and would replace the Renz Correctional Center near Jefferson City that was destroyed by floodwaters last year.

Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Correctional Institutions and Problems, said his panel will hold off making a recommendation to Carnahan on where to build the prison until after the bond vote.

Staples said the preferable and less-costly method for the state is to build a prison with general obligation bonds. But because the space is needed, if the bond proposal fails, they will have to look at other options such as a lease purchase. Staples said it is not practical to make a decision until the method of paying for the project is known.

"We will honor the governor's request that the committee put off making a decision until after the primary," said Staples. "The only power the committee has is to recommend. The governor has moved the election from November to the August primary, and the governor's staff asked us to hold off until after the people vote."

Staples said he is anxious to see prison construction under way as soon as possible. "I would like to see groundbreaking start tomorrow someplace, but we can't do it," he said.

To supplement potential state funding, the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation already has raised $2.4 million to be applied toward the business building.

Wallhausen said few construction projects have been done on campuses with state funds.

"All projects are in the same boat we are," he said. "There has not been significant new construction on campuses in a number of years, so our needs have built up. We want to point that out to people, as well as our own interest in the College of Business building," said Wallhausen.

"I think we are going to try and make the point we know anything with the word bond in it has to be an instant negative in people's minds. But the last bond issue (1982) was for $600 million, and now we are using those facilities while we pay for them with no tax increase."

Money from the last bond issue provided some funds for construction of the Show Me Center.

Wallhausen said the business building would be the first classroom building constructed on campus in about 15 years. The last was when Rhodes Hall was added to Magill Science Building.

There is a serious shortage of classroom space on campus, he said.

"We know this is going to be a tough sell because the mood of voters is very skeptical," said Wallhausen. "But it is up to us to explain, first of all the need, and second, that this is not a tax-and-spend proposal.

"Most of us would not have a house or car if we waited until we had money in hand to buy it. A bond issue is the equivalent of borrowing money to buy a house and car. We can pay for it while using it out of regular income. That is what the state is asking for here, and we think people will understand it in those terms."

Chris Sifford, communications director for Carnahan, said a private effort to promote the bond package will be launched.

"There's no campaign in place now, but there will be and the governor will have some sort of role," Sifford said.