Utah Legislature: Money for roads will now fund new buildings

SALT LAKE CITY — The Legislature will take $113 million from scheduled roadwork and bond for $89 million to construct $202 million worth of new buildings, most of them on university campuses.

The decision by GOP legislators Tuesday — just two days before the session's end — is a reverse from earlier statements by conservative lawmakers who said they were not going to borrow any more money this year.

The Republicans also approved $4.5 million to fill in "hot spots" in the 2010-11 budget — areas that just need a bit more funds, leaders said.

House Republicans were told that construction bids are coming in at 20 percent to 30 percent savings over just three years ago.

Rep. Steve Sandstrom, R-Orem, is an architect. He said that it is "a perfect climate" to construct needed state buildings — even if legislators have to borrow $90 million to do it.

Most of the planned roadwork to be delayed is in Utah County, said Rep. Steve Clark, R-Provo. Frankly, he told the House GOP caucus, it was the desire of the Utah County delegation that those roads be delayed so a Utah Valley University science building could be constructed as soon as possible.

It was the same story in the closed Senate Republican caucus. "We've got people standing up and saying, 'Let's do this because it's the right thing,' " said Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, including senators in Utah and Davis counties, where much of the construction was to take place.

Waddoups said the decision over which roads should be delayed will be left up to the Utah Department of Transportation rather than specified by lawmakers to avoid adding "a level of politics to that."

GOP Gov. Gary Herbert in his recommended budget asked for over $100 million in new bonding. He recommended delaying the road projects after becoming frustrated when legislative Republicans said they would not borrow any money this year, considering the state's poor economic position.

Here's the list the Republicans approved Tuesday in their caucuses:

UVU science/health building — $45 million.

Dixie State College commons building — $35 million.

Salt Lake Community College classroom/administration complex — $29 million.

Utah National Guard upgrades and repairs — $4 million.

Utah State University agriculture building — $43 million.

USTAR research building — $46 million.

All of the buildings have been prioritized and approved by the state building board, just waiting for funding to be found, GOP House leaders said.

House Budget Chairman Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, told caucus members that if state tax revenues rebound quickly over the next few years, some of those delayed road projects (which will ultimately be constructed) could begin in just one year.

Utah has bonded for more than $1 billion for roads in the last few years. And while some Utah County road construction will be delayed under the new plan, I-15 reconstruction in Utah County will go forward, not affected by Tuesday's decisions.

Republicans also approved $1 million for bills they want that cost money — $500,000 for House-sponsored bills, $500,000 for Senate-sponsored bills.

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