Trustees act on airport terminal, rec building, budget

The Auburn University Board of Trustees on Friday approved a budget increase for the new terminal at Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport, initiated a project to build a new recreation building for students and adopted AU’s 2008-2009 operating budget.

AIRPORT TERMINAL

The trustees increased the budget for the Auburn-Opelika Airport terminal from $5.7 million to $6.5 million.

The increase will be funded by non-university sources — Lee County and the cities of Opelika and Auburn.

Board members Samuel L. Ginn and Virginia Thompson voted against the increase.

There was concern about slow progress and the lack of development in completing an expanded runway.

The funds approved Friday will be used for the terminal and not for the runway.

Auburn Mayor Bill Ham said the project must move forward.

“(We) can’t let what (is) out there now sit,” he said.

RECREATION BUILDING

The trustees also approved the project initiation for a new student recreation building.

The current building does not provide adequate amenities, said Lauren Hayes, president of the Student Government Association. “Fifty-four percent of students go off campus (for recreational activities) ... due to lack of equipment,” she said.

The new facility would be about 227,000 square feet and would cost students a $145-$185 fee per semester. “I’m very confident (students will pay the fee),” Hayes said.

The fee is separate from other student activity fees. It could be be voted on in February 2009.

BUDGET

The new operating budget is about $855 million.

A $40 million budget cut from the Alabama legislature, plus $20 million in new costs created a big million challenge for AU, said Donald L Large, Jr., AU’s chief financial officer.

“It was the highest reduction we’d ever experienced,” he said. “We asked them to keep it (the cuts) as far away from the classroom as possible.”