University Bosses Plan Legislative Ask for '27 Session
IHL board approves capital funding request for 2027 legislative session
The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved a system-wide capital facility needs request to be submitted to lawmakers ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
The item came before the board's Real Estate Committee on Nov. 9. Presenting the request, Mr. Brad Roland said "Item number one is a request for approval of the capital facility needs request for proposed funding for the 2027 legislative session." He said each university in the system had prepared a list of its top capital needs, which was submitted to board staff and reflected in the capital plan. Funding, he said, "is proposed based on the evaluation of the priorities in comparison to overall system needs as well as the priority needs established by the Gordian report."
No dollar figures were stated during this portion of the meeting, and the specific requests by university were not detailed.
The request marks the universities' opening ask to the Legislature for 2027 capital spending, the kind of infrastructure funding request that typically moves from initial board approval through legislative appropriation. The board's action sets the stage for lawmakers to consider the system's priorities, as ranked against the Gordian report, when the Legislature convenes.