[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6361183,"mediaKeyId","2171000-e97cd365428793b2082d0bab754129d8","parentId",2171000,"title","Higher education officials defend SB 102 dedicated funding model as committee weighs changes","audioSeconds",320,"startMs",86000,"endMs",406000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171000-e97cd365428793b2082d0bab754129d8&start=86&end=406","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171000-e97cd365428793b2082d0bab754129d8/thumbnail_86000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361183/Utah/Higher-education-officials-defend-SB-102-dedicated-funding-model-as-committee-weighs-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361183-9d55b8df4e4f43196751174b39dde6a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948063&Signature=WETA-qzswHKdqYAiByNwaoxMcZYdqvUF31HSLSLxRjONMCplD2H0T9EBZDPkX9oE9EETg2DXpj~d4elBEamrq9PIJLaqEGDCa4-2oS6eYGV14Ic5KTO2bSGuJpu9nn9Kd7MuRjey~9FjHNoSBIzTCCanaScq3gYDATPEHk1jnhfRhd5CE0mdHInt3~iOYbAlbOjd67nE34ECVPNRmnkjtjk8UZfbaLVCnZhsoIIj7-BY~MDASY~z5StkKNj1YrqHKVJc0sQx0W99umNCljTCYXhkR9vSPTbLOX4LKY9gknDuZuOQHG37yCZ4MIBJQ2btI7xnH0WDQtizlPOvr31v~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","Jeff Landry, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, and Deputy Commissioner Nate Talley told the Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 30 that the dedicated/non'dedicated distinction created by SB 102 (2019) has shifted campus capital projects toward renovations and more efficient use of existing space.

\"SB 102 changed all of that,\" Landry said, describing how institutions now have incremental annual allocations that can be saved and used for renovation projects instead of competing for single new buildings. He said the approach has reduced pressure to build large new facilities and has produced a higher share of renovation projects.

The presentation emphasized that the system'level allocation formula considers enrollment, facility condition and other factors. Officials said they will finalize allocation estimates for this session before the subcommittee adjourns. Landry said many projects recommended by institutions this year are supported by existing ongoing appropriations from the Higher Education Capital Project Fund and therefore do not require additional new general-fund or income-tax funding.

Nut graf: The system presented the formula and results to explain why a proposed reduction in dedicated building funds would be counterproductive, and to describe complementary changes under consideration for non'dedicated requests and technical college allocations.

In his remarks, Landry pointed to measurable changes he said the policy has produced: \"We've had a 30% decrease in the appropriation needs for non dedicated technical projects over the past 2 years,\" and he said about 90% of this year's identified costs support renovations, remodels and upgrades rather than new construction.

Committee members raised technical-college capacity concerns and formula effects. Representative Phil Kristofferson told presenters that several technical colleges reported waiting lists and asked what the system was doing to increase capacity; Nate Talley said the system's budget request includes capacity funding for technical colleges and that the Board of Higher Education is proposing to give technical colleges an allocation model similar to degree'granting institutions so they can build up funds for space and renovation.

Senator Winterton and others pressed that current allocation formulas may undercount secondary (concurrent) enrollment, which can penalize institutions that serve many high-school students. Presenters said HB 265 (as filed) directs a rework of allocation models and specifically tasks staff to consider how secondary students are counted in future formulas.

Several lawmakers voiced support for the dedicated model as a way to depoliticize building funding. Senator Rebe said the approach \"takes the politics out of the process\" and praised institutions for working together on allocations.

The subcommittee did not take formal action on SB 102 or the allocation rules during the meeting; institutions were scheduled to present individual dedicated and non'dedicated requests later in the agenda.

Ending: System staff said they will finalize allocation estimates before adjournment and that they are forming a task force of presidents to address remaining space-utilization concerns. No policy change or funding reduction was voted on during the Jan. 30 meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee - January 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Jeff Landry, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, told the Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 30 that the SB 102 dedicated funding model has encouraged campus renovations and saved state appropriation needs for new construction.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361173,"Universities and technical colleges present capital requests ranging from renovations to new building designs",1108,4031000,5139000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171000-e97cd365428793b2082d0bab754129d8&start=4031&end=5139","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171000-e97cd365428793b2082d0bab754129d8/thumbnail_4031000.jpg","/articles/6361173/Utah/Universities-and-technical-colleges-present-capital-requests-ranging-from-renovations-to-new-building-designs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361173-ba8065c2f3605c306bd82459ebd78c4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948063&Signature=IvekTCOOzESrpl9aPDDlBmQ6J0DtP5Yxr5juG0P5lfdHNpvPi44v0F1I1nz-f2VpiNsGY9siJJa6yzltq8aD-8H16-eS6F9HWIoLTDFBWls8Bc~eq1JAzQGkA8lwGMQ9WI2YFyomenJ24DdOFaDXmPFaDIG5RBnMrpIFTMvDCQqesCwGRv2W~t5lZtYCaMhq270x1X10IBGvhPSIQRWTWve7jWRD2IbGNiPBvvM-PvLK4I27BKi3yHpljqmrogzn1tMGW5Sn3OLqvgNfy1UoIlzm4a5dfaPCGOUgHkkHxJA7V5QHzO9zcGsBxjhpoxhzl83r-Hu6mgjX2X-yxpELYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple institutions used the Jan. 30 subcommittee hearing to present dedicated capital requests and program descriptions. Presenters emphasized renovations and efficiency, capacity needs in technical education and a mix of design-phase and purchase requests.

Weber State University: Jacob Kane, associate vice president for facilities and campus planning, presented two renovation projects. He described an MEP-focused remodel of the Student Services building and an Allied Health update intended to convert some lecture classrooms to labs and upgrade mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Kane said the projects would \"inject another 30 to 40 years of life into the building,\" and reported dedicated funds requests of about $820,000 and $460,000 for the two projects, respectively, plus $250,000 in institutional funds for the student services project (presentation figures as shown to the committee).

Southern Utah University: President Benson asked for a cost-overrun allocation of $1,360,000 to complete the Joe and Beverly Burgess Business Center, and for dedicated funds of $6,635,000 to purchase 11 contiguous parcels (about 2.74 acres) adjacent to campus to avoid becoming landlocked. Benson said the parcels include some aging housing that SUU would remove or repurpose and that acquiring the land now would avoid higher future costs.

Utah Tech (St. George): Paul Morris described a two-phase remodel and 29,000-square-foot addition to the McDonald Building to house the art department and the MFA/BFA programs. Morris said DFCM estimates total project cost at just over $27 million, with an annual O&M estimate of about $425,900. He said the addition restores the art program to the main campus and allows demolition of an off-campus building that is past its useful life.

Utah Valley University (Vineyard site): UVU representatives presented two projects: a proposed 37,000-square-foot Student Athlete Success Center (estimated cost about $29 million) and a health professions and mental-health building at the Vineyard site. UVU said it has raised $12 million toward the athletic facility and proposed a funding plan that would include roughly $1,450,000 in dedicated funds matched with $1,450,000 in other funds to reach the $29 million target. For the Vineyard health professions building, UVU said it seeks $8,711,000 out of dedicated funds to begin design; the project was framed as part of a \"health and wellness village\" that would complement a planned Huntsman Cancer Institute site.

Salt Lake Community College: Chris Martin, vice president for finance and administration, asked for $940,000 in dedicated funds for a seismic retrofit of the South City campus to meet FEMA grant-match requirements. Martin said structural deficiencies were identified in the 1929 original building and a 1961 addition and that the requested state funds would be leveraged as FEMA match.

Snow College (Richfield): President McKiff described a Washburn Building \"refresh\" and outdoor-gathering-space project on the Richfield campus to support Snow's expanded role and technical-education mission in the region. CFO Carson Howell said the scope includes a roughly 5,415-square-foot addition and an overall funding ask of about $640,000 to create internally conditioned student social and study space while avoiding full-system upgrades to the older building.

Dixie Technical College: President Rushton asked for a new Trades and Technology building ranked the Board of Higher Education's top technical-college priority. The latest estimate presented to the committee was $6,680,000, and Dixie Tech said the building would be classroom, lab and high-bay space only, with projected FTE increases of 30'40% in the first year of the facility.

Nut graf: Presenters repeatedly framed projects as renovation- and capacity-focused, citing SB 102 incentives to renovate when possible; technical colleges stressed immediate workforce demand and waiting lists. Most requests were presented as dedicated-funds requests tied to institution allocations rather than new incremental general-fund asks.

Questions from committee members focused on capacity, sequencing and material lead times. Weber State and others noted supply-chain delays that could push construction schedules. Utah Tech and Southern Utah University described demolition or land-acquisition plans needed to consolidate campus footprints. No bond authorizations or appropriations were voted on at this hearing; presenters requested approvals or future committee action.

Ending: Committee members thanked presenters; the subcommittee did not take immediate votes on the projects during the Jan. 30 hearing and requested follow-ups and finalized allocation figures for the session.

","At the Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, institutions across Utah outlined dedicated capital requests and project plans focused on MEP upgrades, renovations, faculty space, workforce training buildings and new design-phase funding for a Vineyard health-education campus.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361178,"State budget staff propose new tracking and reporting for capital project funds to prevent commingling",349,1070000,1419000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171000-e97cd365428793b2082d0bab754129d8&start=1070&end=1419","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171000-e97cd365428793b2082d0bab754129d8/thumbnail_1070000.jpg","/articles/6361178/Utah/State-budget-staff-propose-new-tracking-and-reporting-for-capital-project-funds-to-prevent-commingling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361178-6b3dfb3c8f77b642a6828ec26a13c583/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948063&Signature=Vv4JOp97CTR15bDewIOYgk9803IVoNigop6XnyZGd3iAsSOWT0g4xRfDHzc0xxuogvU~NJ7T45w9dt-k7ILmmBzy5lBbOdmk0BEfbTLCvdh1VhXSxSVYSdrcMD52CyCII0w7GeznaX2rjJ0QY8wMJ1YBkzcBPW6IWPFpg4jle7h-kui2ITlHt9ny7htNNMTi7kKN5q12~JbRawbggOcDpSyxatzivmmDE30TL6MAPLBdKP7ajEsxMp9f4tLF-WNZ5EPf5cyCnNKPpIDxUChu3tsW8pEsILYbvwViufxAiJl6ryXEKVpd3f50BYoDJqFGXWj7huASXQm76pffq2jYnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A staff member identified in the hearing as Sean outlined a set of recommendations to improve transparency and oversight of capital project funds managed by the Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM).

\"When projects come in under budget, it can be used for contingency or for reserve and applied to other projects,\" Sean told the Transportation Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee, and the office said the current practice has made it harder for the Legislature to track where appropriated dollars ultimately land.

The three principal recommendations presented were: 1) create unique capital-project line items by category (for example, state projects, higher education projects, public education projects) so funds do not commingle; 2) align oversight and documentation of transfers between line items so legislative staff can report appropriation-to-expenditure flows; and 3) develop regular reporting and a 30-day notification to committee chairs when transfers occur.

Nut graf: The proposals are procedural and aim to let the Legislature follow a single dollar from appropriation through project completion, and to provide periodic check-ins similar to fiscal-note follow-up reports.

Sean said the proposals are collaborative with DFCM and GOPB and that the proposed reporting would help chairs and the fiscal office answer questions such as \"what's going on with that $10,000,000?\" by showing appropriation, current expenditures and remaining balances for a project.

DFCM staff member Andy Mar was invited to comment after the presentation; the transcript records his presence but not a substantive public disagreement with the proposed recommendations.

Ending: The recommendations were presented to the committee as material posted with that day's meeting packet; staff said they will continue to work with DFCM and the committee chairs to refine reporting formats and timing.

","Legislative staff proposed separating state, higher-education and public-education capital line items, more oversight of transfers, and a 30-day notification requirement for intra-project transfers to give lawmakers clearer sight of funds appropriated for building projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Higher education officials defend SB 102 dedicated funding model as committee weighs changes

Universities and technical colleges present capital requests ranging from renovations to new building designs

State budget staff propose new tracking and reporting for capital project funds to prevent commingling