Governor signs bills designating funds for higher ed construction, students
(May 12, 2008) Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday signed bipartisan legislation allowing the state to move ahead with more than $200 million in construction projects at colleges and universities across Colorado.
Surrounded by higher education leaders including University of Colorado President Bruce Benson and UC Denver Chancellor M. Roy Wilson, MD, legislators and college students, Ritter signed Senate Bill 233 at the construction site for the Auraria Higher Education Center’s new Science Building, scheduled for completion in 2010.
SB 233 was sponsored by Sens. Sue Windels and Suzanne Williams and Reps. Jim Riesberg and Don Marostica. With broad bipartisan support in the legislature, the bill allows the state to issue Certificates of Participation to speed up higher-ed construction projects around Colorado.
“Higher education is about hope and promise and opportunity,” Ritter said. “That’s why we are here today. This hole in the ground is going to be filled with a world class building that will provide opportunities for thousands of students so they can achieve their full potential.
“This hole is a metaphor as well. When our state fell into a recession in the early part of this decade, progress was put on hold. Budgets were cut and building projects were cancelled. To be sure, there is still much work to do, but we are making real progress. We’re getting higher education back on track. We are climbing out of the hole.”
Benson and Wilson thanked the governor and the bill sponsors for their diligence in establishing funds for not only the Science Building, but higher education as a whole. Higher education funding in Colorado was boosted by 9 percent in the last legislative session.
Ritter also signed Senate Bill 133, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Shaffer and Rep. Andy Kerr, which establishes a scholarship program for teachers in high-demand subjects.
“Teach for Colorado Scholarships” will help student teachers pay for tuition, fees and books necessary to complete a bachelor's degree in mathematics, science, special education, and other high-demand teaching areas.
Photo: Gov. Bill Ritter discusses the importance of the "Teach for Colorado Scholarships" bill as University of Colorado President Bruce Benson looks on.