The Washington state Legislature will have much more say about the future of Centralia College than just the school’s budget for the next two years.
Also at stake is $4.1 million in a capital funds request for the TransAlta Student Commons at the college, which currently sits in the design phase, according to Centralia College Vice President of Finance and Administration Steve Ward. The project is listed 19th in a list of 32 projects that the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, or SBCTC, requested funding for — but Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed higher education budget turned that list on its head and re-prioritized the list, moving Centralia’s request up and making it possible to receive the funds this summer should the Legislature approve the budget.
“With us having been 19th in line, we would have had to push the project back two years,” Ward said. “Under the governor’s proposed budget, we could be funded for design this July and make some headway on it. It depends heavily on what the Legislature says, though.”
The TransAlta Student Commons would include a library, cafeteria, student support center, and registration area, among other uses. Ward said the community pledged $1 million in support along with matching funds from the college, as well as a TransAlta donation of $500,000 that secured naming rights for the facility.
The college’s $1 million match was provided for in late 2007, before the current budget cuts went into place, Ward said. He added the matching funds will not be affected by the proposed budget cuts discussed in a Monday forum with college staff.
“We didn’t receive any direct correspondence from the governor’s office, but we were told she approved us on the list of capital projects because she saw our funding sources and community support,” Ward said.
But it’s a “coin flip” whether the Legislature will pass the governor’s proposed budget or revert to the original funding request by SBCTC, Ward said. At this point, it’s too early to tell — but that’s not stopping the college from working with architects to design the center and proceed as normal.
“Will we get funded the $4 million this following biennium or not? It’s anyone’s guess,” Ward said. “Until some word comes down, we’re just going to keep plowing right along and remain hopeful that we’ll get the money. It’ll come to us, but it’s just a matter of whether we get it now or in two years.”
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Christopher Brewer: (360) 807-8235
