BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick will file a 10-year, $2 billion higher education bond bill on Wednesday that will make a historic capital investment in the state's public colleges and universities.
The governor's legislation will include authorization for new building or renovation projects at every one of the commonwealth’s community and state colleges and at each of the University of Massachusetts' campuses. Specific projects included in the bill were identified as the top capital improvement priorities by the Board of Education, the board of trustees of the University of Massachusetts, the respective campuses and the Commonwealth’s capital facilities agency.
"This administration is committed to providing our students the highest quality public education possible so that they are prepared to compete with their peers across the country and throughout the world," Patrick said. "If we ask our students to put forth their best effort to succeed then we must be willing to invest in the tools to help them - their laboratories, their classrooms and their libraries."
The last major, 10-year higher education bond bill was a $618 million bond bill enacted in 1995.
The governor’s legislation includes $1 billion in authorization dedicated to capital improvements at the five UMass campuses and $1 billion dedicated for improvements to the state and community colleges. Portions of the bond bill authorization are not designated for specific projects in order to preserve flexibility to address emergency capital investment needs and new capital investment priorities that will emerge over the next 10 years.
In conjunction with the administration’s increased capital investment in our state and community colleges, the Board of Higher Education will eliminate its requirement for campuses to provide matching funds for state capital dollars, relieving the pressure to increase student charges to pay for capital needs.
"The Board of Higher Education applauds the governor for his significant support of capital projects on our public college and university campuses," said Patricia F. Plummer, chancellor of the board. "We are particularly pleased to see that every single college and campus within the commonwealth's public higher education system will benefit from this historic piece of legislation."
"It's important to note the serious, diligent and comprehensive process that has led to this historic call for investment in public higher education. This bond bill is the direct result of good faith collaboration across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the governor’s office, the Board of Higher Education, the Division of Capital Asset Management, and all of the campuses," said Frederick W. Clark, board chairman. "The governor's priorities as reflected in this bill mirror the ones identified throughout the collaborative process, and we look forward to our continued work together on behalf of the 260,000 students within the public higher education system."
The Patrick-Murray administration’s five-year capital plan published in August proposes a significant increase in the state's capital investment in higher education, reflecting the administration's commitment to strengthen our public colleges and universities through the next phase of education reform. By 2012, planned state-funded higher education capital investments will represent 10 percent of the state's total bond-funded capital programs, compared to 3 percent in fiscal 2007.
In recognition of the Administration’s increased capital investment in the University of Massachusetts, the University has committed $187.5 million over the next five years – 50 cents in addition to every dollar of the state’s planned five-year, $375 million investment – to further address its capital needs.
"We commend the governor for his continued strong support for UMass and his understanding of the University’s capital needs," said UMass President Jack M. Wilson. "The University Massachusetts has developed an ambitious capital plan, because we know that investing in top-notch facilities across our campuses will allow us to continue to attract the best students and the best faculty. Today's announcement is an important step in meeting our capital needs and we look forward to working with the Patrick administration and the Legislature to continue to make critical investments in building upgrades and new facilities across our five campuses."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
For the boys, Ward Bianchi helped lead the way with a win in the shot put and a second place in the javelin as the Mounties finished 16 points ahead of runner-up Pittsfield (pending the results of the pole vault, which were unavailable at 11 p.m. Friday night). click for more
