A fifty state assessment of capital needs for public higher education

The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the 50 states' efforts of funding public higher education capital needs. This study investigated areas relating to capital needs financing, planning, decision-making processes used in each state, available funding, and future policy directions. Another goal was to develop a base line of data that might complement the existing GRAPEVINE database tracking public higher education operating budgets.; This study was limited to public higher education within the 50 states and by the time frame reviewed, the 1996--1997 fiscal year, which in most cases ran from July 1 to June 30. Of the 50 states, 41 states responded, representing 82% of the 50 states.; This study found that (a) states use a variety of methods by which to request and allocate state funds for public higher education capital budget needs; and (b) the role of the state legislature is highly varied.; This study recommends (a) a longitudinal study of state appropriations for capital needs. Such a study could assess what relationship, if any, exists between good economic times for state governments in terms of revenues, and the funding of capital needs for public higher education; (b) a study of the funding formulae used by the states. Legislatures' intrusion in the allocation of capital funding (as compared to operating funding), suggesting that capital funding might be viewed by some state policymakers as an "add-on," an issue to be addressed in good but not bad economic times; (c) a more in-depth study of the formulae themselves, with special attention to the policy assumptions behind those formulae, would be most useful; and (d) a study of coordinated master plans and statewide facilities audits for public higher education. The decision making process of each state is as unique as the state itself. The extremely limited amount of literature that does exist on this topic suggests that states can make use of guidelines to help effectively plan for and deal with issues of deferred maintenance. It is hoped that an awareness of this problem will cause states to look for solutions.