UC Regents approve state capital improvements budget for 2010-2011

The UC Board of Regents approved the 2010-2011 state capital improvements budget today during the first part of their three-day meeting hosted in Covel Commons at UCLA.

The budget includes a $631 million proposal for state capital outlay funds that would allocate money to restore projects that were included in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget, but were not funded in the 2009 State Budget Act.

The proposal would also provide funding for additional projects in the individual campuses’ five-year plans, mainly those involving seismic and life safety and facilities renewal.

Presenters of the proposal said the plan represents the University of California’s long-term planning efforts.

They emphasized that funds from the bonds would support the UC medical centers and general campus needs, as well as auxiliary and student fee support projects.

However, Chairwoman Leslie Tang Schilling of the Committee on Grounds and Buildings expressed concern about the likelihood of actually attaining the funds from the state government.

Although the planners said there was a mixed chance, they said they would continue to work with the state legislature to see if there is a motion to move capital bonds forward for either K-12 education or higher education.

In addition to the bond proposal, the regents also discussed an amendment to the budget proposed for the renovation of the Santa Monica/Orthopaedic Replacement Hospital managed by UCLA.

Presented by Chancellor Gene Block and Vice Chancellor Steve Olsen, the proposal involved approval of the budget as well as external funding, which would enable the project to be completed.

The funds were designed to assist with a multi-phase seismic renovation of the facility as well as a parking structure.

The measure was approved.

The regents will meet again Wednesday at Covel Commons to vote on the mid-year fee increase as well as the fee increase for fall 2010.

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