$24 Million Asked For Projects Building Council’s Requests Outstrip Projected Income

The Permanent Building Fund Council will recommend more than $24 million in new state projects for the next budget, even though there will be far less money available for the work.

The state’s building fund gets about $25 million a year, mainly from a $10 charge on each state income tax return.

Maintenance and repairs to state facilities take $13 million to $15 million per year. The Division of Public Works’ operating budget, which includes payments for bonds, is $6.7 million.

There may be up to $3 million available from previous projects, but that still leaves just $6 million to $7.2 million for new projects. Where the money goes usually is one of the biggest battles the Legislature goes through.

Council members voted Tuesday to give top priority in the next budget for $1,050,000 toward completing the University of Idaho’s agriculture-biotech facility in Moscow.

Next will be $180,000 for a new multipurpose complex for the Department of Juvenile Corrections.

The priority list has to go through a lot of hands before money is appropriated. The recommendations go to the Division of Financial Management, which will help Gov. Phil Batt prepare a request for the 1998 Idaho Legislature. The actual money won’t be available for any project until approved by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and then the full Legislature.

Other spending requests given top priority by the Building Fund Council are $1.7 million for a microwavecommunications facility for the Department of Law Enforcement; a maintenance shop for the Department of Health and Welfare’s laboratory, $97,000; new greenhouse for the Department of Agriculture in Boise, $157,500 and $504,000, planning and design for phase two of a physical education facility at Lewis-Clark State College.

Seventh on the priority list was $240,000 for a medical facility for the state prison south of Boise; $7.3 million for phase two of a physical science laboratory and classroom building at Idaho State University; $450,000 for the Department of Lands to build a district office in Boise County and $105,000 for a Department of Administration building at Grouse Peak.

Eleventh in priority was $973,300 for the first phase of a new building for the Commission for the Blind in Boise and No. 12 on the list was $2 million for Boise State University’s Canyon County facilities.