Mississippi HBCUs to Get Additional Funding from State Legislature
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi's public universities are unlikely to get all of the $95.7 million requested for building upgrades.
House and Senate members have been studying the budget request from the state's college board. The budget includes $85 million to repair and renovate academic buildings at the universities and a separate request of $10.75 million more for two historically Black universities as part of the state's college desegregation case.
Legislators say while the amount is justified, it will be difficult to come up with all the money.
"You never get everything you ask for, but they need every penny," said Rep. Ferr Smith, D-Carthage, a member of the House Universities and Colleges Committee. "We will do as much as we can."
Mississippi's eight universities received $70 million for facilities needs from the 1999 Legislature, a 16 percent budget increase. College Board President Ricki Garrett of Clinton says the board's request to the 2000 Legislature could have been much higher.
"There are tremendous facilities needs," he said.
This year's budget includes $10 million for the second phase of Jackson State University's School of Business and $6 million for the first phase of a project to renovate Colvard Student Union at Mississippi State University.
The University of Southern Mississippi seeks $5 million for renovations, $3.5 million more for general repairs and $500,000 for a music facility on the campus.
In a separate request tied to the desegregation case, Alcorn State would receive $10.5 million to construct a building to house its master's in business administration program in Natchez. Jackson State would receive $250,000 for developing the design for a School of Engineering facility.