A panel of lawmakers today gave preliminary approval for Western State College students to pay a fee for new construction projects on their campus, over the objections of the two GOP lawmakers who serve on the Capital Development Committee.
The $97 per credit hour fee was voted on and approved by students at Western State last April by a vote of 413 to 401. Approximately 40 percent of the student body cast their vote. If finalized, the fee will be phased in over ten years, eventually reaching $2,688 annually. Annual tuition is currently $3,140 for in-state tuition, with current fees of $924. The money is designated for the replacement of 50-year-old student apartments, a new athletic facility, and ongoing maintenance costs on campus.
Western State President Jay Helman called the vote a historic victory on the school’s website.
“This is one of the most pivotal moments in Western’s 108-year history,” said Helman. “The students’ approval of this fee demonstrates their commitment to investing in Western’s future.”
With President Helman in attendance, Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Aspen, asked if capital construction costs on campus would continue to be thrust upon students in the future, alluding to the likelihood that the state will not be able to contribute towards the capital construction costs.
“Always being sensitive that we’re putting on the backs of our students our higher-ed buildings, and this being a fairly significant load for each student to have to carry, are there any additional fees that the students will be subject to?”
Helman told Schwartz that the fee included some flexibility for future unforeseen costs down the road, and that the fee would remain in place unless it was deemed unnecessary by future governing boards or by a vote of the students, and only then could the fee be reduced or rescinded. Barring a proactive decision to eliminate the fee, the fee will remain in place even after the bonds are paid off.
GOP Sen. Scott Renfroe of Greeley, along with fellow GOP committee member Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling, voted in opposition to the tide of Democratic members voting yes, explaining that his no-vote stemmed from the lack of strong consensus among the student body, and from a perspective of trying to allow free-market solutions—namely off-campus apartments — to fill the void.
“The student vote was such a slim margin—less than 20 votes—and I’m not sure that these construction costs should be imposed on students who may or may not benefit from the new buildings,” said Renfroe. “If there’s a need there and it can be done in the private sector, I’d rather have it addressed in the private sector.”
The recommendation of approval from the Capital Development Committee will now be forwarded to the Joint Budget Committee for its consideration.