House OKs school building proposal

The Arkansas House approved a bill on Thursday intended to adjust how construction costs are calculated for school projects.

With seven lawmakers voting present, House Bill 1254, by Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, passed 78-8.

The bill would require the state Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation to use “funding factors” updated annually for determining the basic project cost per square foot for various types of construction projects.

Mayberry said the “funding factors” would allow for more up-to-date cost calculations.

“The issue for school districts is that we’ve got a lot of construction projects going on and they’re currently being funded at $200 a square foot,” she said. “The average price in 2022 for construction projects at our schools was $375 a square foot.”

Some lawmakers raised questions as to how the bill would affect projects that have already received funding.

Mayberry said her bill would only affect projects moving forward. While the bill would not increase funding for the construction of facilities, Mayberry noted it could result in fewer districts receiving funding.

“So we go from 75 school districts that might have received funding at $ 200 a square foot to potentially 50 school districts that will now receive money,” she said. “It’s the same pot of money, we’re just dividing it less, but the school districts are actually receiving more money so they can accomplish what they are trying to accomplish.”

Mayberry noted legislators could approve more funding for school construction projects overall if they choose.