Universities Refuse to Fix Buildings Despite $1B in New Funding

State Capitol, Phoenix Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona plan to forego needed repairs that represent fire and life safety hazards despite a $1 billion infusion of cash meant to address those needs. In a Tuesday letter to Gov. Janet Napolitano, House Speaker Jim Weiers raised the troubling issue. Napolitano is a member of the Board of Regents. According to the regents, NAU will leave $20 million worth of life safety issues uncorrected while nearly $17 million in life safety issues will go unrepaired at the UA. Arizona State University will repair all $143 million of its identified life safety issues. This is unacceptable, Weiers, R-Phoenix said. The universities know they have a dangerous situation and they are refusing to use the money to make needed repairs. NAU and the UA will instead use some of its money for new or expanded buildings. The Legislature gave the universities $1 billion in spending authority to be backed by new proceeds from the state lottery to address life safety issues and construct new buildings. The universities know they have buildings in disrepair and are willfully ignoring the problem despite having the money, Weiers said. This is putting students and faculty at grave risk.