Supporters of creating a pool of money for college building projects – to be administered by the Chancellor of Higher Education – say that’s the approach backers of a new building for the UND Medical School need to take to get that built.
But the med school backers say there isn’t enough money in that pot – given all the other building project requests.
Governor Dalrymple included $68 million in his budget for an addition to the med school. A separate Senate bill would add $55 million to that, so a new building would be constructed.
"We're kind of dividing the baby here," said House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo). "We're going to fund the back half of the project, and we haven't even decided to fund the front half."
Carlson says that Senate bill needed to be killed – and the new building be considered as part of the pool. That pool has $178 million in it.
"There is not enough money in the pool to fund the full Monty of the med school," said Rep. Eliot Glassheim (D-Grand Forks). "If we believe we should build the entire thing, you have to vote for this bill."
Rep. Jon Nelson (R-Rugby) supports the new building as well. He was willing to go along with Carlson’s recommendation.
"But only with the understanding that this will raise in importance," said Nelson. "This debate and this conversation needs to continue."
The final details will be worked out in a conference committee.
