House and Senate leaders are looking at a list of proposed building projects – to see which ones could be approved in a time when the state will have less money to work with.
The House had removed all the building projects from budgets – except for the continuation of construction of the UND medical school.
"There will be some building,"' said Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson). "At this point, I can't tell you which buildings or what it's going to be. But leadership is studying what buildings do we think we can do and afford."
House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo) says there may be a couple of building projects approved outside of the med school.
"I think they will be revenue bonds," said Carlson. "Those are the ones that are paid for on the campuses by revenues from room and board and activity fees, things like that."
Carlson says he wants to spend some money on "deferred maintenance" projects.
"If we're going to have extra money and spend it on the campuses, if there's boilers that are out or sewer lines that are broken, those are the kinds of things you need to fix, or they will cost you a lot more next time," said Carlson.
Some lawmakers have suggested bonding for buildings. But both majority leaders have rejected that idea.
