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URI staff outline governor’s budget response; RICAP awards include accessibility and Fogarty funding
Summary
University staff told trustees the governor’s recommended budget provided partial support for capital repair (RICAP) but did not fund most operating strategic initiatives; the governor recommended $14.6 million for asset protection and $8 million toward Fogarty Hall mechanical work.
University of Rhode Island staff briefed the Finance and Facilities Committee on Feb. 3 about the governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget and the university’s RICAP (capital improvement) requests.
Abby Benson, vice president, summarized the governor’s recommendations and compared them to URI’s FY 2026 budget request and FY 2025 enacted amounts. Benson said the governor’s budget provided no funding for the university’s $5.7 million operating shortfall request or for $13.6 million in strategic initiatives; it did, however, include a $4.5 million increase over FY 2025 enacted operating appropriations and provided capital funding in several RICAP line items.
Why it matters: Capital funding affects the university’s ability to maintain campus buildings, address accessibility barriers and complete mechanical upgrades. The committee heard that asset protection funding was recommended at $14.6 million (up modestly from last year), and that a new accessibility line item was recommended at $7 million out of a requested $16.5 million over five years. Importantly, the governor’s budget included the full $8 million the university requested for the Fogarty Hall mechanical/electrical/plumbing work to complete that project.
Benson said the accessibility item is a new explicit RICAP line to address long‑standing barriers — nonfunctional elevators, inaccessible sidewalks and other campus deficiencies — and University staff emphasized this was the first time the governor’s recommendation included a dedicated accessibility allocation.
The committee also discussed the university’s PFAS remediation work. Benson said URI had previously received $20 million for PFAS work, initially designated with ARPA funds and later moved to RICAP; the university sought an additional $1.7 million in RICAP but did not receive it in the governor’s proposal and will explore financing through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank’s emergency emerging contaminants program.
Ending: Staff emphasized the governor’s recommendation is one step in the state process. The university will continue discussions with the general assembly as appropriations move toward finalization in late spring.
