Ohio University’s Board of Trustees will discuss the university’s budget deficit and 31 potential construction and renovation projects at its Friday meeting.

The largest construction project, a Porter Hall addition and demolition of Anderson Laboratory would cost $7.2 million, about $6 million of which would come from the state, $700,000 from Baker project funds and $500,000 from the Provost’s office. The project would connect Baker University Center with Richland Avenue.

“There are multiple sources contributing to that pool,” said William Decatur, vice president for Finance and Administration. While most funds for Baker Center came from state grants, the $60 fee students pay each quarter also could contribute.

“I’m not sure what exactly comes from where,” Decatur said. “But (the road project) is not something new. It’s very important because of the traffic flow and pedestrian traffic.”

The Board of Trustees will vote on allowing the university to receive bids for the addition at its meeting.

Other plans include a $1.2 million faculty lounge in Alden Library, which will renovate about half of Alden’s third floor to include similar amenities as the second floor student learning commons.

OU will receive roughly $12.9 million from the state for the Athens campus of the total $14.4 million construction costs. The remaining $1.5 million will come from other project funds, Decatur said.

Deficit worries students

OU President Roderick McDavis will present to the board the budget he proposed to Budget Planning Council last Friday that would wipe out the university’s $8.55 million budget deficit.

Administrative units would face an average budget reduction of 3.6 percent under McDavis’s budget, while academic units would see average base budget cuts of 1.6 percent, resulting in $4.8 million for reallocation.

Athens campus revenue is expected to increase $1.68 million, but costs are assumed to grow $10.23 million, leaving the budget deficit at $8.55 million

The budget cuts worry students who fear their opinions might not be taken into consideration.

“There are a lot of things going on here, and it’s not all numbers,” said junior Shelly Shaw. “I hope they realize student opinions on the university are just as important as their tuition money."