Joint Budget Committee approves introduction of Auraria Higher Education Center funding bill

The Joint Budget Committee voted to introduce legislation directing appropriations to the Auraria Higher Education Center and ordering a comprehensive study of the Auraria campus.

The bill transfers certain appropriations to AHEC, requires a contractor-led study of the campus operations and coordination among tenant institutions, and includes technical changes the committee authorized before introduction. Committee members voted 6–0 to approve introduction with the agreed technical edits.

WBC staffer Llewellyn Lowe told the committee: “This bill funds AIHEC directly. That was the point, the main point of this bill. This removes the TaberDowel account that we had been trying to get at.” Lowe said the study language was broadened at the request of institutions to allow the contractor to review up to 15 years of past campus studies and, permissively, to go further if useful. Lowe also said a report deadline will be set and would allow a one-month extension in unforeseen circumstances.

Committee discussion focused on ensuring institutions and other parties receive the study and can provide feedback. Lowe noted one institution requested adding examination of food-service coordination to the study scope. After agreeing the edits were technical, the committee moved to introduce the bill with the changes. The motion carried unanimously.

The committee recorded the bill’s Senate sponsors as Senators Chris Amabile and [Bridges] with Senator Kirkmeyer cosponsoring; House sponsors listed were Representatives Taggart, Sirota and Byrd. Staff were authorized to make the technical drafting adjustments described during the briefing.

The committee recessed after the introduction vote to reconvene later for additional items.