Public funding continues to dwindle and concerns about the impact to colleges and universities are mounting. Increased enrollments and aging campuses have created a growing inventory of much-needed projects that cannot be funded.

And, deferred maintenance on college and university campuses has become a menacing issue. Many are concerned about sustainability for the nation's higher education system.

While some would argue that learning is "going online," the country is not there yet. Most parents and students still expect college curriculum to be delivered in classrooms on a campus.  

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Approximately 40 projects throughout state approved by transportation officials

Construction could start within just a few weeks on some of the $2.9 billion in new road and bridge projects recently approved in the state of Ohio. State transportation officials approved the projects, $930 million of which are being paid for in part by Ohio Turnpike bonds issued in July.

The projects are part of Gov. John Kasich's Jobs and Transportation Plan, which the governor (left) said will create 60,000 new jobs and grow the state's economy thanks to a $3 billion investment in state infrastructure over six years.

"Our agriculture, manufacturing and logistics industries, as well as so many others, depend on our world-class highway system for their success and the $3 billion in new funds made possible from our plan keeps them moving so Ohio's economic recovery can keep moving," said Kasich. He said the projects are going to begin without a tax increase and are aimed at keeping the state's highways in top condition.

Without issuance of the bonds, officials say some of the 40 projects could have been delayed for years. "We have been working hard to move through the process quickly and get projects started," said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray (bottom). He said this new plan gets more projects started faster and without a tax increase. The state's transportation budget specifies that at least 90 percent of the bond money must be spent on road and bridge work in northern Ohio.

The $2.9 billion investment includes federal, state and local funds and is aimed at improving motorist safety, reducing congestion and adding capacity. The breakdown of allocation of the funding includes: $1.2 billion for 17 projects in Northeast Ohio, $932 million for nine projects in Central/Southeast Ohio, $494 million for 10 projects in Northwest Ohio and $286 million for five projects in Southwest Ohio.

Among the projects are $340 million to demolish the Inner Belt Bridge in the Cleveland area and to build a second, eastbound bridge. Another $274 million will be spent on the Opportunity Corridor, a boulevard to connect I-490 and I-77 and East 55th Street. To view the complete list of all projects approved for construction throughout the state by the Transportation Review Advisory Council, click here.

Encourages private investment for renovations, upgrades in facilities

Private investors will be sought for as many as half of the public housing units in the city of San Francisco, as the city's Housing Authority will participate in a federal program whose goal is to allow for renovations and upgrades that the Housing Authority cannot afford to make on its own.

The rental assistance demonstration (RAD) will allow up to 3,000 of the San Francisco Housing Authority's more than 6,000 units to be repaired and rebuilt with private sector capital. Mayor Ed Lee (pictured) proposed using the RAD program, which was approved by U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. Although private dollars will revamp the units, the operation of the units will be turned over to nonprofits in the city. Donovan said "creative solutions" such as private investment and nonprofit partnerships are necessary because of funding gaps that resulted from the federal sequestration and other funding cuts.

Some of the city's housing areas have become bastions for crime and violence will be rebuilt through private investors under the Hope SF program. These sites will be demolished and replaced with both public and market-rate units. Use of market-rate units allows private investors to make a profit on their investments and also allow residents of existing public housing to stay in their homes.

"Ultimately, we want every site we invest in to become investments for the private sector as well," said Lee. Officials note that private investment may be the only way to solve the longstanding funding problems with public housing.

Nebraska school district passes bond election for school upgrades

A successful $12.93 million school bond issue last week in the Fort Calhoun school district in Nebraska will lead to the renovation and expansion of the Fort Calhoun Junior-Senior High School. Construction could begin as early as next spring. The bond proceeds will be used for new academic, athletic and activity spaces along with upgrades to security, the mechanical system and fire code upgrades to bring the school into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The renovations project will now go into the design phase. Officials are hopeful to finance the bonds over a 25-year period, but the financing will be affected by climbing interest rates.

Ball State University to issue bonds to help pay for Central Campus project

Trustees with Ball State University in Indiana have approved the sale of about $39 million in bonds, the proceeds of which will be used to finance construction of the Central Campus Academic and Utility Project, Phase II. The bond proceeds also will be used to complete the Geothermal Conversion Project. Trustees also approved issuance of $35.7 million in housing and dining system revenue bonds to expand Johnson A residence hall. The trustees also approved the refinancing of Student Fee Bonds that will save taxpayers close to $1 million. Ball State Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer Randy Howard (pictured) said the refinancing help provide an environment to help attract and retain students and "continue our tradition of good fiscal stewardship." The renovation of Johnson Hall A is part of a bigger plan to renovate all of the university's residence halls. 
 

City in Massachusetts accepting bids for road project

The city of Springfield, Massachusetts, is seeking bids for a project estimated at a cost of $6 million to reconstruct a section of Boston Road. The project is expected to get under way this fall. "This is not only a public works project, but a significant economic development project that will dramatically enhance the Boston Road corridor," said Mayor Domenic Sarno (pictured). The road work will include full depth reconstruction that includes paving, milling and overlay, construction of concrete sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, driveways, drainage improvements and granite curbing. Reconstruction of five intersections, including new traffic signals, is part of the project as well. The project will be funded with $5 million from the city and $1.5 million from the state, which will include design and construction. Construction is expected to take 54 weeks. The city decided to fund the majority of the project on its own to avoid long delays for other funds. That also helped free up additional state funds for other projects in the area.

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Kentucky city enters into partnership to save through energy efficiencies

Calling it a "win-win" situation for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer (pictured) announced a public-private partnership (P3) that will save the city money. The P3 involves the city and a private company in the energy industry. The private sector firm will provide energy upgrades to government buildings throughout the city. There will be no up-front costs to the city. In return, the nearly $27 million private investment by the private partner to replace chillers and boilers with more energy-efficient systems, update aging electrical systems and install solar-powered hot water heaters will be repaid by the city. The annual payments will come from the energy savings the project produces. The private firm estimates that savings will be about $2 million per year. "If the energy savings are not realized as projected because of the work of Johnson Controls, the city will not be responsible for paying that portion of the project," Fischer said. The mayor estimates that the energy efficiency improvements will reduce the city's annual carbon emissions by more than 12,000 tons, and will help create more than 500 local jobs.

 Are you a government official who has moved into a new position or to a new agency? Did you recently retire? Were you recently named to an executive-level position at a state-supported college, university or community college? Have you secured a new job as superintendent of a public school? If so, we'd like to hear from you - and so would your friends and colleagues - for our "Where Are They Now" column. Just drop us a line at editor@spartnerships.comand let us know about your previous job and where you are now. This week we feature Rebecca Holcombe.

Rebecca Holcombe (pictured) received teacher certification through the Upper Valley Educators' Institute, and completed graduate coursework for her principal certification at Lyndon State College. She has degrees from Brown University, the Simmons School of Management and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she is currently completing a doctorate and has focused on testing and school leadership. She was Director of Academics during the formation of the Rivendell School District, in which four small towns joined to form one K-12 interstate school district. She has also been a principal at Fairlee School for K-8 grades and curriculum coordinator, as well as social studies and science teacher at the Frances C. Richmond School in Hanover. Most recently, Holcombe has served as director of the Dartmouth Teacher Education Program in Hanover, New Hampshire. She was recently chosen by Gov. Peter Shumlin of Vermont to serve as the state's next secretary of education. She will replace Armando Vilaseca, who a year ago announced he was planning to leave state government. Holcombe is the first new secretary of education to be appointed since 2012 legislation made the Department of Education an agency headed by a secretary who reports to the governor. 

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