Previous At the U. of Southern Indiana, a Proposal for a Conical Tower |
Next |
January 15, 2008, 11:24 AM ET
Bridges Before College Buildings in Minnesota Governor's Budget
Minnesota’s governor, Timothy Pawlenty, has proposed spending $1-billion on public works, but much of that money would go for the replacement and repair of bridges and for other transportation projects in the state. Less money than usual would go to higher-education construction and maintenance projects, according to articles in the Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune.
State colleges and universities typically get 30 percent to 35 percent of the state’s capital budget, but this year they may get only 24 percent. Transportation projects are getting almost 40 percent of the budget — according to the Star Tribune, the $225-million to be spent on bridges is “four times more than any previous bonding bill has spent on bridge replacement.” Of course, the emphasis on bridge repair is a reaction to a highway-bridge collapse in August that killed 13 people and shocked the nation.
State senators say they will push Mr. Pawlenty, a Republican, to give more to higher education, but the governor does not seem inclined to go along. According to an editorial in the Star Tribune, he offered the University of Minnesota only 55 percent of its bonding request, and the Minnesota State Colleges and University system only 45 percent. Mr. Pawlenty called the state colleges’ request “completely out of control.”
Add Your Comment
Commenting is closed.