Milford Applied Technology Center selected by the House; senators question funding approach after local vote

The Department of Education asked the Senate Capital Budget Committee to consider a roughly $9.9 million capital appropriation to renovate Milford’s Applied Technology Center after a prior Conant project failed to pass at the local ballot.

Melissa White, division director for learner support, said the agency originally sought two CTE renovation projects: Conant Regional’s Applied Technology Center at about $18.5 million (which the voters narrowly rejected) and Milford’s project at roughly $9.9 million. The governor included Conant but voters did not approve it and Conant has chosen not to move forward; the House included Milford’s project.

Milford’s request would renovate 11 existing high‑participation programs and add automotive and health‑sciences programming that prepares students for jobs immediately after high school, including training for licensed nursing assistant roles. The department said local monies would cover about $3.6 million of the total $13.5 million project cost (construction plus equipment and furnishings), leaving about $9.9 million of state support requested.

Senators pressed on whether the legislature could fund engineering or phased work if local approval is delayed; architect Lance Whitehead (LaValley Brensinger Architects) told the committee Milford’s engineering costs total about $1.6 million and explained why Milford plans to seek a single bond vote under SB 2 requirements rather than split requests across two years as Rochester did.

Committee members expressed support for CTE investment but worried about committing state funds where local voters have rejected a similar project; one senator suggested funding engineering costs as a compromise to show state support while not committing to full construction without local approval. No appropriation vote was taken at the hearing.