Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 5 (Feb. 9, 2009)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 5, February 9, 2009
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

Governor's $1.2B Bond Package Intended to Put Georgia to Work Construction Projects Would Create 20,000 New Jobs Across State

The $1.2 billion bond package included in Gov. Sonny Perdue's Fiscal Year 2010 budget recommendations includes $325 million in new construction and renovation projects for the University System of Georgia (USG) and will create approximately 20,000 jobs to bolster Georgia's sagging economy.
"This year's bond package will put Georgians to work and build critical infrastructure," Perdue said in his State of the State Address in

January. "In the past, we have often funded the design phase of a project one year and construction at some later date. This year's package will feature many projects in which both design and construction are funded in the same year, ensuring their timely completion.
In a time [at which] we have trimmed our budget in other areas, we are aggressively increasing our bond package by a full 20 percent over last year," he continued. "This

will take advantage of low construction costs and create an estimated 20,000 new jobs in an industry that is ready to go to work. These projects touch every corner of the state and include new construction at our universities, technical schools, local school systems and libraries; harbor deepening at the Savannah port and needed improvements at state facilities."
In addition to $325 million for the University System, the Governor's $1.2 billion

bond package includes $318 million for Georgia's public schools and $573 million for other state facilities, such as medical and corrections facilities, the ports, and the Technical College System of Georgia.
"We appreciate the Governor's strong support for our capital program, which will enable the University System to meet the increasing demand for our services," said Linda Daniels, the USG's vice chancellor for facilities. Q

The 13 USG Projects Recommended by the Governor for Construction Funds

College of Coastal Georgia Health Sciences Building

$13.3 million

This 50,000-gross-square-footage (gsf) facility will provide new labs, classrooms and offices to

house the college's registered nursing and other health-sciences programs.

Fort Valley State University historic renovations

$13.4 million

Several of Fort Valley's historic campus buildings will be renovated and rehabilitated to provide

updated classrooms, wet and dry labs, seminar and conference rooms, and offices for faculty and

administration.

Gainesville State College academic facility

$31.2 million

This 130,000 gsf facility includes classrooms, labs, offices and a 150-seat auditorium. The project

will integrate technology into both classroom and non-classroom settings.

Georgia College & State University historic Ennis Hall renovation

$9.8 million

The interior of this former residence hall will be gutted and redesigned to provide classrooms,

studios, galleries and offices for the Art Department.

See "USG Capital Projects," Page 2 ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- February 9, 2009, Issue No. 5

USG Capital Projects
Continued from Page 1...

Georgia Gwinnett College infrastructure

$2.0 million

This money will fund the design and installation of the first phase of a campus infrastructure proj-

ect, including chilled, domestic and storm water with retention-pond expansion, sanitary sewer

lines and power and fiber network expansion.

Georgia Tech G. Wayne Clough Undergraduate Commons

$43.0 million

This 230,000 gsf building will be situated at the academic heart of the Georgia Tech campus and

will provide modern and innovative science labs for lower-division classes in biology, chemistry,

environmental and atmospheric sciences, and physics; technically advanced teaching space in

classrooms that seat from eight to 300; and one stop for undergraduate advising, counseling and

tutoring.

Kennesaw State University laboratory addition to Science Bldg.

$17.8 million

A 52,000 gsf addition will encompass science-teaching labs, student/faculty project labs, offices for

faculty and administration, and instructional support spaces.

Macon State College Teacher Education Building in Macon

$20.1 million

This 83,300 gsf facility will include classrooms, seminar and multi-purpose rooms, model class-

rooms that replicate spaces found in K-12 schools, such as science labs, literacy-training and as-

sessment areas, and elementary-school classrooms, a resource center for teaching interns and

practice teachers, and offices for faculty and staff.

Middle Georgia College Georgia Hall renovation

$500,000

The college's business and financial aid offices will be moved out of this building to make way for

the expansion of the dining hall.

North Georgia College & State University historic renovation/additions $10.5 million Multiple historic buildings will receive technology upgrades and renovations to update large classrooms, administrative offices and other student-support space.

Savannah State University Marine Bio/Environmental Sci. Bldg.

$2.6 million

Instructional and research facilities will be built adjacent to the existing Marine Biology Building

with close proximity to seawater to support the marine science program.

University of Georgia Special Collections Library

$26.2 million

This 115,000 gsf library will house an array of materials, including rare books and manuscripts,

political papers, historic radio and television programs and other original materials that illuminate

history and culture. The facility also will include classrooms, seminar rooms and gallery space for

exhibits.

University of Georgia (Griffin Campus) infrastructure/renovations

$800,000

Funding would provide for infrastructure needs such as roads and underground electrical service,

as well as renovations to a soil-and-water chemistry-teaching lab.

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