Vermont State Colleges seek $1 million for Johnson housing planning, update heating plant and maintenance work

Vermont State Colleges leaders told the Senate Institutions committee on Feb. 4 that work funded in last year’s capital bill is underway and that the system is asking for $1,000,000 in the current capital cycle to fund preplanning and planning for a proposed on‑campus housing project at Johnson.

Sharon Scott, chief financial and operating officer for the Vermont State Colleges, said the capital bill provided $1,500,000 for major maintenance in FY26 and $1,500,000 for FY27. She reported year‑to‑date spending of $1,200,000 and said the colleges expect to spend an additional $500,000–$750,000, meaning institutional dollars will cover the overage.

Scott listed recent projects funded by capital appropriations, including a $250,000 building‑envelope project at Castleton to repair the library roof and windows; masonry and chimney‑liner work at Ellis Falls to address falling bricks and improve energy efficiency; pump and piping replacements at Randolph’s pool; and mechanical piping replacement at Veil Hall in Linden. She emphasized…