In the wake of the state of Delaware announcing it’ll have $350 million in “extra” revenue next year, the state’s colleges are taking advantage and requesting a big part of the bonanza.
The University of Delaware wants $66.5 million, Delaware Technical Community College $12.4 million, and Delaware State University a whopping $100 million.
Combined, these figures account for just over half of that tax surplus, and an 800 percent increase over the capital funding Governor John Carney had recommended for the schools back in January.
According to The News Journal, most of UD’s request would go towards a “transformational” building on its STAR campus, while Delaware State would “tackle a slew of repairs to the school’s mechanical systems, campus roadways and existing buildings.”
The eye-popping $100 million sought by DSU Interim President Wilma Mishoe is more than twice the capital appropriation the Dover-based university has received in the last 10 years — combined.
It also would be the fourth largest appropriation under Carney’s proposed capital budget, behind only the Delaware Department of Transportation, the state’s public school system and the Office of Management and Budget, which funds a grab bag of major projects for various state agencies.
“I suspect [past DSU presidents] based their request on historical funding,” Mishoe said of the university’s skyrocketing request. “This is my first time here and I said I’m going to go for it.”
Sen. Brian Busheweller, D-Dover, praised Mishoe for her “bold” request even while noting the “shocking” amount of money being sought.
“If we don’t know what the needs of the university are, by definition, we’re not going to be able to do a very good job of helping you,” he said.
She received a warmer reception than UD President Dennis Assanis, who repeatedly characterized his $66.5 million ask as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to help ensure his school becomes the epicenter of American efforts to mass produce cutting-edge drugs.
Some state lawmakers questioned U. Delaware’s request given that it has a $1.3 billion endowment.
“A whole host of [groups] need resources to function … that don’t come off as flashy as cutting-edge research technology but have such critical roles,” State Senator Bryan Townsend said. “And they don’t have endowments.”
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