Tennessee Higher Education Commission passes nearly $290 million projects list

photo Richard Rhoda, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission passed the 2012-2013 capital projects recommendations today, a list that requires close to $290 million in state funds.

The commission also approved 60 already-funded capital projects in the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee systems at a cost of $254 million.

For the first time this year, institutions are required to share the financing of new capital outlay projects. The percentage varies according to institution, said Russ Deaton, chief fiscal officer of THEC.

Under the recommendations, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga would be required to come up with 25 percent of a $59.5 million life sciences laboratory, while the state provides $44.625 million, according to THEC documents.

"The harsh reality being that the conventional reliance on state for total funding for capital projects and maintenance the state is no longer in the position to do that, not just in Tennessee but in other states as well," Richard Rhoda, executive director of THEC, said Tuesday during a conference call.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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