Team Of Budget Writers Assign Nearly $800 Million To Repair State's Aging Buildings

With the state's total "deferred maintenance" needs estimated at more than $1 billion, the funding will mostly be used for fixing old buildings with a small portion used for constructing new office buildings. The measure that enables the funding—Senate Bill 2004 by Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler)—has already passed both chambers of the Legislature and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Greg Abbott.

The budget document, which still needs final approval by the House, Senate and governor, allots the bulk of funding—$244 million in 2016 and $275 million in 2017—to the Texas Facilities Commission, according to budget documents. The Department of Transportation would get $200 million, and the Department of Public Safety would get a total of about $41 million for their maintenance needs. Meanwhile, the Facilities Commission would get $9.5 million, along with $10.9 million for the Texas School for the Deaf added to the current budget.

The House and Senate had until May 30 to finalize the budget, which includes the deferred maintenance funding. The funding should not be a sticking point for either chamber since Eltife's bill breezed through both sides.