The state Legislature will decide on June 14 if Oklahoma higher education will receive additional state funding.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education asked the state Legislature and Gov. Keating on June 4 to approve a bond issue that would provide $460 million in additional higher-education funding.
The issue will be decided in an upcoming special session of the Legislature that starts on June 14.
"The $460 million represents the most critical capital needs of universities and colleges in Oklahoma," said Laura Callahan, director of communications for the State Regents.
The Regents divided the proposed funds into four categories in their report to the Legislature.
$319.8 million would go for the institutional priorities of every campus in Oklahoma. The Regents said building renovations, better facilities for the physically disabled and upgrades for computer and telecommunication systems are needed most.
$113.2 million would go to Northeastern Oklahoma's higher education services and Langston University, which according to a State Regents' press release need money to expand.
$7.8 million would go to higher education in Enid, Ponca City and Woodward.
$4.4 million would benefit the OU Health Sciences Center's Southwest Medical Education Facility in Lawton.
"We have a resident training program down in Lawton. That is where we need the money." said Dr. Joseph Ferretti, senior vice president and provost of the Health Sciences Center. "The funding is absolutely necessary. We're just keeping our fingers crossed."
OU President David Boren said he is also in favor of a bond issue and is working with OSU President James Halligan to persuade the Legislature to appropriate $350 million for higher education.
Boren said he is especially interested in getting support for the proposed geosciences and meteorology research center, which would be constructed with federal support to create the largest weather research center in the world.
"With the recently announced support of this project by President Clinton and both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders, as well as Gov. Keating, this is an opportunity we must not miss because of a failure of the state to put up its share of the cost," Boren said.
If the $350 million bond issue is approved, an estimated 40 percent of the revenue would go to OU and OSU.
"It will probably be more like $500 million, because the bill will include $150 million in capital improvements from last year," said Michael Bay, state Legislature media director.
With the bond issue being supported by the State Regents and two university presidents, vocal opposition in the Legislature has been scarce so far.
"No organized opposition has surfaced as far as I'm aware, but this thing is still in the very early stages of development," Bay said.
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