Major building proposals at Edmonds and Everett community colleges are included in a record $470 million budget request that the state Board of Technical and Community Colleges approved Thursday, June 24.
Edmonds Community College would receive almost $20 million, and Everett Community College $24 million, if the budget request is approved by the state Legislature during its 2005 session.
The board requested $457 million in the 2003-05 biennium for building projects, and received almost $430 million.
Enrollment at the state’s 34 community and technical colleges is projected to increase by 31,000 in the next decade as record numbers of high school students graduate. Both of the county’s community colleges say they are running out of space.
However, there are no guarantees that the colleges will receive that much money when the Legislature meets in January.
“We are encouraged, but it depends on the situation the Legislature faces and the economy,” said Jim Garrison, a member of the state board.
“It’s too early to know,” added Lorna Sutton, a board spokeswoman. “There are just so many different factors.”
For Edmonds, the request includes $14.5 million for Mukilteo Hall, a 50,000-square-foot classroom building planned for south of Lynnwood Hall. It would provide more classrooms for basic skills, computer and science labs, and library services.
“We really need more classroom space,” said Michelle Graves, an EdCC spokeswoman.
Another $5.1 million would be used to renovate Brier Hall, which houses the college’s cafeteria and culinary arts program, along with science and other classrooms.
Everett Community College seeks $17.6 million to construct an instructional building to replace Glacier and Pilchuck halls; $7.4 million to design an undergraduate education center; and $1 million in matching money for the Paine Field Technical Center.
The undergraduate center, which would be built by 2009 if the funding is approved, would include math, English, social studies and other classes, along with four-year university-level classes. EvCC has a decade-old partnership with Western, Central and Eastern Washington universities.
Under the request, 4-year-old Cascadia Community College in Bothell would receive $3 million to design a center for arts, technology and communication. The plan also seeks $11.8 million for a southern access road to Highway 522.
Eric Stevick is a reporter with The Herald in Everett.
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