Utah Building Board ranks top requests

Among the $284.9 million the state Building Board wants from the Legislature for capital development projects, higher education has five requests that made it into the board's top 10.

The board ranked 23 individual projects, not including a general request for $53.7 million to be used for several improvements. Much of the money would go to higher education facilities. That request is first on the list.

At a cost of more than $15.4 million, the next three items on the list are for regional centers in Ogden, Moab and Logan.

Weber State University is next in line, with more than $5.5 million needed to renovate its Reed K. Swensen building.

"The building board has the responsibility to look at all capital needs in the state," said Cecelia Foxley, Commissioner of Higher Education.

That board then merges its list with one compiled by the Utah Board of Regents, which met Friday to discuss its financial needs for higher education. The regents' list, totalling more than $154 million in project requests, included the top building priority for each of Utah's nine public colleges and universities.

It's rare that the two boards have the same priorities, Foxley said. "We still will go forward with the Board of Regents priority list to the governor and Legislature and argue strongly for that."

Other Building Board requests include $14 million for two Utah College of Applied Technology projects. The board is also looking for $7.1 million for the Tooele County courthouse and $15.7 million for the Department of Corrections to purchase the Oxbow Jail from Salt Lake County.

The $45 million that's needed in state funds for the University of Utah's Marriott Library was ranked second on the regents' priority list, but landed 11th out of 23 on the building board's lineup. The library is slated for improvements and seismic upgrades.

Foxley said phased funding might be the answer for big-ticket items like the U. library.

Associate commissioner Dave Buhler said the Legislature will look at both lists and then come up with one of their own.

"But even then it doesn't necessarily mean the Legislature will make your project the top priority," he said.

A big factor in considering which projects to fund before others involves life-safety issues. The U. library is not now considered earthquake safe.

Still, the Building Board is requesting $42.2 million for health sciences buildings at Dixie State College and Salt Lake Community College in front of the Marriott Library project.

---

E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com