Budget might delay science building plans

IU's planned $60 million multidisciplinary science building, its top capital priority, could be in jeopardy.\nThe budget the state Senate Finance Committee passed Thursday puts a freeze on new construction projects, including IU's proposed science building. Funding for the building was included in the House's version of the budget.\nPassed through committee 10-5 across party lines, the Senate budget scales back on spending in a number of areas, including higher education. Senate Finance Chairman Larry Borst, R-Greenwood, said it reflects a slowing national economy and dwindling state revenues.\n"We can't spend more money than we have coming in," he said. "It's just common sense."\nUniversity spokeswoman Susan Dillman said University officials understand this year's budget choices are challenging, but she said she is "hopeful" the Legislature will find the money to pay for IU's requests.\n"We are strongly encouraging the legislature to find a way so that we can begin with the science building," Dillman said. "This is a project that will help us keep our best and brightest in the state of Indiana."\nThe goal of the building is to put all of the sciences under one roof, chemistry department chairman Ernest Davidson said, connecting disciplines normally isolated. The building -- to be constructed directly behind the chemistry building -- would contain the latest technology for science research.\nIU Director of State Relations Donald Weaver said the building, which will be mostly underground, is not only the No. 1 priority for the IU system, but is important to the state's quality of life and economy.\n"This building would bring in, we estimate, another $50 million worth of grants that generate jobs for the state of Indiana and enhance research value for the state," Weaver said.\nHe said the University is working to ensure capital projects are considered and included in the final budget.\n"As far as the building is concerned, we will work with local legislators and the leadership to keep emphasizing our need and the critical nature of the building," Weaver said.\nThe Senate is expected to pass the committee's proposal, after which the Senate and House will meet in a conference committee to negotiate the budget. \nTrustee Ray Richardson, who served in the state legislature for 24 years, said he hopes that when the bill goes back to the conference committee, members will be "somewhat more generous to IU."\n"It's important to IU that the work begin on the science building," Richardson said. "The delay would set us back and be unfortunate, but the science building will be built at some time -- the sooner the better." \nIf the legislature does not allocate funds for construction, the building could be put on hold for two years, Weaver said.\nHe said he is optimistic, but not confident, that the building will be included in the budget.\n"If the past is any indication at all, they generally do end up funding a few of our capital projects, but you never know for sure," Weaver said.\nRegion editor Joseph S. Pete contributed to this report.