No JSU Stadium Money in Bond Bill


Unknowm

Unknowm

Well-Known Member
By R.L. Nave Monday, April 1, 2013 1:24 p.m. CDT

Some lawmakers are decrying the absence of funding for a new Jackson State University football stadium in the $196.4 million bond package that Mississippi House and Senate budget negotiators worked out.

The bond bill, Senate Bill 2913, contains a laundry list of capital projects around the state. This sum includes $11.3 million for Jackson State for repairs to the Margaret Walker Alexander Center and the school of education, and for furniture at a building JSU owns in downtown Jackson, 101 Capitol Centre.

The bill does not contain any funds for the proposed 50,000-seat state-of-the-art domed stadium that JSU envisions will accommodate football and basketball games as well as serve as a big-name concert venue.

This morning on the House floor, Democrats, including some members of the Legislative Black Caucus who graduated from Jackson State, pressed the Republican leadership on the lack of stadium funding.

"It's a very storied athletic program, and they deserve to have a stadium on their campus," said Rep. Rufus Straughter, D-Belzoni, a JSU alumnus.

House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Jeff Smith, of Columbus, said the Senate did not wish to provide Jackson State any stadium funds this year. Smith said the leadership of the House and Senate taxing committees would meet with Jackson State officials this week.

"Let's quit giving people false hope. Let's quit prevaricating," Smith said, although when pressed by a House member, he declined to identify any prevaricators.

"There's nothing in here for Jackson State, but I'm not going to say there's no hope for Jackson State," Smith said.

Smith added that the Mississippi State Fairgrounds also would not receive any funds in the bond bill.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 109-5 just before noon. Eric Stringfellow, JSU communications director, declined to comment for this story.


http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2013/apr/01/no-jsu-stadium-money-bond-bill/
 
If I were JSU I would forget the domed stadium and UMC! I would develop the land around the stadium.
 



Is JSU allowed to issue their own bonds? Are Mississippi Universities in Mississippi allowed to issue their own bonds?
 
Olde Hornet said:
Is JSU allowed to issue their own bonds? Are Mississippi Universities in Mississippi allowed to issue their own bonds?
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If they could do that they wouldn't need the State. Bond money is basically a low interest rate loan that has to be paid back. If they had that kind of money, they wouldn't need a loan or state bond money.
 
FAMU CLIFF said:
I hope JSU gets it done, but understand a state not spending money on stadiums in a tight economy
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I agree. I hope JSU will find other methods to fund this dome. Great idea and the sketches were impressive. Keep the faith. JSU. :tup:
 
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JAG89 said:
If they could do that they wouldn't need the State. Bond money is basically a low interest rate loan that has to be paid back. If they had that kind of money, they wouldn't need a loan or state bond money.
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Is that true for all state universities in Mississippi?
 
Olde Hornet said:
Is that true for all state universities in Mississippi?
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Yes it is. If any state university wants to issue bonds, they have to request it from the legislature, who must authorize it. JSU will get bond money for other things, but not the dome this year.

IMO, the timing didn't help us at all. We announced the plan and request after the session started. Legislators need time to consider such instead of making a rush decision. I look for a better outcome next year, now that it's out in the open. But I still don't expect to get the entire $75M. I expect they'll put it in phases.
 
They didn't give anyone a dime this year.
Oh well...........Everything will be back up on the table for next year.
 
ScreamTeam1 said:
Where did that money they gave Ole Miss a few weeks ago for their new area come from? They approved that instantly.
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They approved $10 million in grants to expand the medical school on the UMC campus at the University Hospital in jackson.

The money you talking about for renovating Ole Miss arena came from private donations. Same with the renovations going on at Mississippi State for renovating their basketball arena. Once you get the initial funding to build, all the renovation, expansions, etc., years down the line is up to the school to do on their own. :tup:
WebUniversityofMiss.jpg

Artist's rendering of $63 million expansion to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Ole Miss medical school expanding
Ground has been broken on a $63 million expansion to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson.
The 151,000-square-foot facility will provide classrooms and laboratory space, allowing the School of Medicine to increase the number of students it admits to each incoming class from 135 to more than 160. In October, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant authorized $10 million in grant funding to the project, which is expected to create 930 construction jobs.
 
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96lioness said:
:tup:

Don't give up JState!
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+1. I hope it works out for JSU. Tremendous objective and I hope it comes to fruition. And I hope JSU bolts the SWAC for FBS'dom so that some of us, who obviously are not bent on improving likewise, don't hold them back. :read:
 
CEE DOG said:
States are broke right now. Maybe next year it will turn around.
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Not all states...

The fact that a few days ago Texas announced it saw a budget surplus of $8.8 billion under the conservative leadership of Governor Rick Perry and the implementation of conservative economic policies, should have received some attention, but other than a couple very brief mentions in the mainstream media, not many people saw the news or delved too deeply into the meaning of it.
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http://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-co...f-how-conservative-policies-work-2556984.html
 
jag4life said:
While I agree that Texas ain't broke, that surplus is smoke and mirrors. Probably more of a political discussion than sports, though.
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Yeah it is smoke and mirrors. I actually believe them crooked mofos got more money than they admit. LOL.
 
Voice of Reason said:
This thing is a lot closer to being a reality than people think! Lots of things are happening out of the public view. Stay tuned!
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These people are telling us to keep the faith like our fingers got slammed in the door or something. :lol: Again, none of this had time to be considered. I think they tried to rush to get it all in on time but the still didn't give legislators time to adequately review it. If I was voting, I would have voted no as well. Even the economic model came out AFTER the first no vote. Unless someone made up some numbers, the economic impact alone is enough to get it built. As already stated, I don't think we will get $75M in one lump. In fact I don't even expect us to need the whole $200K by next year. The city didn't pitch in their $10M until after everything was sent in so that takes it down to $190M. I am sure some other outside commitments will soon roll in.
 
Good Luck JSU...I would love to attend a swac east game with it all on the line in a climate controlled environment.
 
Voice of Reason said:
This thing is a lot closer to being a reality than people think! Lots of things are happening out of the public view. Stay tuned!
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We certainly believe that. This WHOLE thing happened out of public view. Some of us knew small bits and pieces because there were rumors on campus but for the most part, everyone was in the dark about the entire project until it was unveiled. I like how JSU is working towards this.
 
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