Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Things Are Looking Up

  • By Deborah P. Moore
  • 08/01/14

Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and the light does not seem to be caused by an oncoming train! After quite a few years of tight or non-existent budgets for facility projects, states are once again in the spending mode. Here are some examples.

Ohio: On July 10, The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) approved over $251 million in state funding for school construction projects. Combined with $279 million in local funding, these projects represent more than $530 million.

California: In March, the State Allocation Board (SAB) announced that it has awarded approximately $372.2 million for 105 school construction projects. In addition, The California Clean Energy Jobs Act (Prop. 39) changed the corporate income tax code and allocates projected revenue to California’s General Fund and the Clean Energy Job Creation Fund. Roughly up to $550 million annually is available for appropriation for eligible projects to improve energy efficiency and expand clean energy generation in schools.

Wyoming: The school facilities department is requesting $360 million in 2015. Topping the list is money allocated for construction, followed by monies needed for major maintenance projects.

New York City Schools: The city’s DOE is proposing a $12.8 billion capital plan for FY2015 through 2019. The plan features the following investments: $4.4 billion for capacity ($3.3 billion for new capacity, $210 million for pre-kindergarten initiative, $490 million for class-size reduction, $400 million for a facility replacement program); $4.9 billion for capital investment ($3.3 billion for the Capital Improvement Program that includes exterior and interior building upgrades and other necessary capital repairs, $1.6 billion for school enhancement projects; $3.5 billion for mandated programs such as remediation and code compliance.

Maryland: The funds available for the Public School Construction Capital Improvement Program for fiscal year 2015 total $325.3 million. This includes $221 million for major construction projects and $93 million for systemic renovation projects.

Washington: On July 15, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn announced the release of nearly $213 million in capital construction money to school districts throughout the state of Washington. The money, coupled with nearly $381 million in local school district funds, will bring more than $594 million into the state’s economy through school construction.

And the list goes on. With good news on consumer spending, the market, jobs reports and state initiatives like this, it appears that 2015 is going to be a much better year than we have seen in a while!

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.