Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith Delivers Remarks on Proposed Proposed Fiscal Year 2005 Capital Budget Request
September 9, 2003
As you know, I have had serious concerns regarding the ground that is being lost regarding two areas in our Capital responsibility.
The first pertains to repair and renovation. The appropriation for our requested amount for this category continues to fall woefully short. This Board has a responsibility to preserve and enhance the facilities that have been placed in your trust. Private resources are generally not available for this important function. State resources are essential. Your well thought out preventive maintenance program is limping along, due to a shortfall in maintenance funds.
The second concern is for new facilities as well as projects on the minors' list. This Board has the best system I have encountered for determining needs and prioritizing those needs. Our enrollment growth dictates more facilities to preserve access for Georgians. This assumption was confirmed by an outside consultant with whom we contracted to study capacity.
Therefore, we have approached our process a little differently this time. Given the low interest rates, high unemployment and the dramatic need for capital improvements in the University System of Georgia, Vice Chancellor Linda Daniels will bring to you a package of capital items that we believe are essential if we are to be in a position to meet the needs and demands of Georgians for higher education.
Our state has a very low percentage of its 18-24-year-old population involved in postsecondary education. That is now turning around. We must have the facilities necessary to meet this increasing demand. I don't want people in 2010 to wonder if we understood and addressed in 2003 the increasing space demands on our System. This is why this package is being brought to you today.