2008 Woodie Awards
Oakland Hall vote postponed two weeks
Kevin Robillard
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: News
A group of state officials decided to delay approval of a planned 650-bed North Campus dorm, as a looming budget deficit makes some state officials hesitant to sign off on the building's $88 million price tag.
The Maryland Board of Public Works decided to push back voting on the approval of Oakland Hall, which will be located in the Denton Community, because members wanted to know why the university wasn't using a private-public partnership to build the dorm, like they did with University Courtyards and South Campus Commons.
The board - which consists of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) and Treasurer Nancy Kopp (D) - is responsible for approving state construction projects and contracts.
The dorm, named after the Garrett County seat, will cost $88 million and is intended to house freshmen. Construction is expected to start sometime next summer. Assuming the schedule remains the same, the dorm should be completed by fall 2011 or January 2012 at the latest.
Franchot said in rough economic times - the state is anticipating a $195 million deficit this year and a possible $1 billion deficit next year - the state needs to be extra careful how it spends money.
"I believe it is important to ask the tough, but necessary questions to ensure that taxpayers are getting the best value for their dollar. In the coming days, I look forward to working with the Governor, Treasurer and university administration to keep this vital student housing project moving forward in a [timely] and cost-efficient manner," Franchot said in a statement.
The delay in the vote means the Board of Public Works will consider the dorm at its Oct.15 meeting, when hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts will be recommended. The university's budget is expected to be cut by about $12 million at the meeting. The state also already deferred some money that was scheduled to be spent on transportation projects, including the Purple Line and Route 1 renovations.
The Maryland Board of Public Works decided to push back voting on the approval of Oakland Hall, which will be located in the Denton Community, because members wanted to know why the university wasn't using a private-public partnership to build the dorm, like they did with University Courtyards and South Campus Commons.
The board - which consists of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) and Treasurer Nancy Kopp (D) - is responsible for approving state construction projects and contracts.
The dorm, named after the Garrett County seat, will cost $88 million and is intended to house freshmen. Construction is expected to start sometime next summer. Assuming the schedule remains the same, the dorm should be completed by fall 2011 or January 2012 at the latest.
Franchot said in rough economic times - the state is anticipating a $195 million deficit this year and a possible $1 billion deficit next year - the state needs to be extra careful how it spends money.
"I believe it is important to ask the tough, but necessary questions to ensure that taxpayers are getting the best value for their dollar. In the coming days, I look forward to working with the Governor, Treasurer and university administration to keep this vital student housing project moving forward in a [timely] and cost-efficient manner," Franchot said in a statement.
The delay in the vote means the Board of Public Works will consider the dorm at its Oct.15 meeting, when hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts will be recommended. The university's budget is expected to be cut by about $12 million at the meeting. The state also already deferred some money that was scheduled to be spent on transportation projects, including the Purple Line and Route 1 renovations.
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