College Building Bill Moves Forward

RICHMOND — A bond package to finance college building projects and other state facilities moved closer to passage in the House of Delegates on Friday, picking up broad bipartisan support and a favorable review from Gov. Tim Kaine.

The $1.2 billion package includes $59 million for a Roanoke medical school facility and research institute planned by Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic. The full House advanced the legislation Friday, setting up a final vote on the bill for Monday.

The House package differs from a $1.6 billion package proposed by Kaine, but both plans would fund the medical school building and other projects at Virginia Tech, Radford University, Virginia Military Institute and state community colleges. House Bill 1547, which includes the $1.2 billion proposal, is sponsored by Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Kaine’s proposal relies on general obligation bonds, which would require voter approval in a November referendum. Putney’s bill would not require voter approval, and contains an emergency clause that would put the legislation in effect as soon as Kaine signs it.

Putney said the projects will provide a needed economic stimulus if they can be started soon.

Putney’s bill would get $685 million worth of already-planned projects moving immediately, including the Roanoke medical school building.

The bill is designed to create a six-year capital improvements program that would improve planning and cost projections on state building projects.

In addition to the $1.2 billion in building and parks projects in the bond package, Putney’s bill contains "pre-planning" funds for another $600 million worth of projects.

Delegates in both parties appeared at a news conference Friday morning to signal their support for Putney’s bill.

"This has not been a bipartisan issue, it’s been a nonpartisan issue that has bipartisan support," Putney said.

House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County, and Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry County, were among those legislators at the media event.

Kaine’s bill is being carried in the Senate by Democrat Charles Colgan of Manassas, but the governor had a favorable reaction to Putney’s bill.

"He’s happy to see this movement," Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey said. "The governor wants to get as many projects under way as soon as possible."

Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, said Putney’s bond package could be good news for Virginia Tech, which would get immediate funding for engineering and science buildings and a human and agricultural biosciences facility, according to documents provided by the House Appropriations Committee.

"The good thing about Lacey’s bill is that, for a lot of Virginia Tech projects, we can move forward at a quicker pace," Shuler said.

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