Online Edition | Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Friday, December 14, 2001

State freeze lifted
WSU nabs $31.7 million

Gov. Gary Locke gave the green light to state officials last week to proceed with $880 million worth of capital construction funds. The money, previously approved by the 2001 Legislature, was frozen by Locke’s budget office this fall, after a downturn in the state economy indicated a $200 million shortfall of construction dollars.

Within six hours of the governor’s announcement Dec. 6, WSU applied for and received $31.7 million in construction installments that had been frozen.

To make up the shortfall, Locke has proposed a solution that bonds some lottery monies.

Locke also said he plans to present a $100 million supplemental capital construction budget next year to further stimulate the economy.

The decision to lift the funding freeze affects many WSU construction projects, large and small. WSU has contracted two major projects—the $12.4 million Shock Physics Building in Pullman and the $18.5 million Vancouver Multimedia Building.

Construction never halted on these two projects because of contractual obligations, but the freeze left WSU with no certain way of paying for them. The money received Thursday provides WSU with the lion’s share of the funds necessary to finish the two buildings, plus all of the $11.4 million budgeted for campus infrastructure, and $7 million for building preservation and safety. Locke has said he intends to visit the Pullman campus on Dec. 17 and might tour the Shock Physics construction site.

Other Projects
Projects scheduled for the 2003-05 biennium were also impacted by the freeze. The governor’s decision Thursday means those projects may now be designed in this current biennium. Specifically, WSU may now apply for the funds necessary to design the Johnson Hall Addition, the Vancouver Student Services building and the Spokane Academic Center. If approved by the Legislature, the governor’s proposed $100 million supplemental capital construction budget could give WSU funding for the F.O. Berg building, hazardous disposal, the Prosser water system, the pedestrian mall, Stadium Way, and others.