While Blinn College prepares for the start of classes at the new RELLIS campus, scheduled and unscheduled repairs are taking place on the Bryan campus.
The third phase of landscaping improvements will be done this summer. That’s after Blinn’s board of trustees approved at their April meeting spending $391,000 dollars. The contract is $91,000 more than budgeted. The difference will be taken from contingency funds. Courtyard improvements in front of the Bryan campus library includes L-E-D and additional ground lighting, more seating and planters, and the replacement of fixtures.
At the May trustees meeting, the board learned significant repairs or reconstruction will have to be done to the “C” and “F” buildings on the Bryan campus. That’s after a portion of a cast stone header fell two months ago on the “G” building. That led to long-term temporary repairs. Administrators are in the process of determining the scope and cost of permanent repairs.
Click HERE to read and download background information on proposed repairs at Blinn’s Bryan campus.
Also at the May board meeting, trustees learned next year’s proposed budget at Blinn College includes more than $4 million dollars in repairs and renovations. According to a presentation at this month’s Blinn trustees meeting, that’s a decrease of $2 million dollars from this year.
And less than 20 percent of next year’s money is proposed to be spent on the Bryan campus. The $775,000 dollar budget is split into parking lot paving and lighting, heating and air conditioning controls, new paint and carpet, furniture, and safety related equipment.
The Brenham campus is proposed to get $3.3 million dollars. Two buildings are slated to receive $500,000 each for repairs, and two more buildings $450,000 each.
Blinn administrators are also recommending three percent pay raises for full time faculty and staff and a seven percent increase in the college’s health insurance contribution to current and retired employees. All together, that will cost an additional $2 million dollars.
Two months ago, the Blinn board approved a tuition and fee increase of $2.00 dollars a credit hour for in and out of district students. That’s projected to generate an additional $1.3 million dollars in revenue. Administrators are planning to receive an additional $1.5 million in revenue from student housing and meals in Brenham.
Final action on next year’s Blinn budget is scheduled June 19th.