A bill allowing most of Kentucky's public universities to start more than $360 million in bonding projects has officially cleared both legislative chambers.
The Senate passed the bill 36-1 Wednesday, with Sen. John Schickel, a Union Republican, as the lone dissenting vote.
The bill allows six of the state's eight public universities to start projects such as dorm renovations, construction of academic buildings and renovation of Commonwealth Stadium.
The plan includes $22 million in bonds for a new Honors College and international center at WKU.
Morehead State University President Wayne Andrews said his university's specific project—dorm renovations—would not use any state funds and neither would any of the other projects.
"The students that live in the halls that paid fees to live there pay all of the debt service so there's no indebtedness borne by the commonwealth," Andrews said.
Andrews gave Gov. Steve Beshear much of the credit for the bill's success.
"I think it was part of his leadership that brought the House leadership, the Senate leadership together in that press conference, I don't see any problems at all," he says.
The House quickly concurred with small Senate changes to the bill and Beshear is expected to sign the bill into law on Thursday.
