$5 million set aside for STEM building

PANAMA CITY — The state budget approved by the Legislature last week includes $5 million for construction of a STEM building at Gulf Coast State College.

And although that amount isn’t enough to pay for the project, college officials are glad to have it.

Last year the state Legislature appropriated $14 million to go toward a $23 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) building at GCSC; however, the governor vetoed it.

With the cost scaled down by $8 million, college President Jim Kerley is content to see the budget set aside any money for the project.

“It’s not enough to build the facility, but it gives us money to go for the (next) legislative session and get hopefully the remaining amount of money next year,” Kerley said. “There’s a good chance we’ll get funding next year to complete the project.”

In 2012, the college got $350,000 to start planning the project; however, Gov. Rick Scott used his line item veto to remove the project funding from the state budget last year.

Scott has 15 days to exercise his veto from the time he receives the budget, which is expected to be within the next few days, according to a budget summary from the office of state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, whose district includes Bay County.

College representatives have said the governor stated he doesn’t believe the college is maximizing its usage of existing buildings.

In response, the college has scaled back its original designs to reflect a smaller and cheaper STEM facility, which now is estimated to cost $18.8 million.

More “tweaking of the design” should be expected, Kerley said.

“It’s just getting through the process,” he said. “We’ve followed the process closer this year; we’ve done what’s requested of us.”

The current STEM building is about 55 years old and is becoming increasingly susceptible to weather conditions.

Depending on when funding becomes available, construction on the building could start as early as fall next year.

A new STEM facility is “just a critical building for us,” Kerley added. “I think we’ll do what we can to get the building built.” 

Bay County funding in state budget*

Construction of Gulf Coast State College STEM building, $5 million

Bay welding program for shipbuilding, $250,000

Life Management $750,000

Martin Theatre, $27,085

Bay Arts Alliance, $60,300

Libraries, $80,052

City of Lynn Haven utilities, $90,651

City of Mexico Beach utilities, $1,592,308

Bay County utilities and public works, $2,000,000

*Does not include transportation funding

See a list of funding for eight area counties, find a link at newsherald.com