Stimulus funds to be used for Florence-Darlington Tech renovations
FLORENCE — Florence-Darlington Technical College will use an estimated $761,000 in federal stimulus funds to renovate instructional spaces at its Florence and Hartsville campuses.
Missy Jay, chairwoman of the Florence-Darlington County Commission for Technical Education’s finance committee, said during the commission’s meeting Wednesday finance committee members were updated on the list of projects that could be completed using stimulus money.
Florence-Darlington Tech’s allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be $1,160,948 for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
Renovation projects included the welding lab ventilation and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system; the lecture hall and two rooms in building 400 of the Florence campus; lab renovations; and HVAC upgrades at the Hartsville campus as well as building 600 at the Florence campus.
Florence-Darlington Tech President Dr. Charles Gould said the projects needed to be completed but funds weren’t available before for them to be done.
According to 14004: Uses of Funds by Institutions of Higher Education in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a public institution of higher education that receives funds can use the funds for education and general expenditures, and in such a way “as to mitigate the need to raise tuition and fees for in-state students, or for modernization, Page 4 of 9 renovation, or repair of institution of higher education facilities that are primarily used for instruction, research, or student housing.”
That includes “modernization, renovation, and repairs that are consistent with a recognized green building rating system.”
Gould said the college will set aside about $400,000 of the college’s 2009-10 allocation to be used at a later date.
The administration will do a re-evaluation the college’s finances after fall enrollment.
Gould said no one knows what the coming year will hold in terms of more budget cuts, so the college is being cautious about its use of the federal money.
The federal money can also be used for several activities including the support of salaries related to classroom instruction and instructional technology; and academic support for libraries and academic facilities.
The Florence-Darlington County Commission for Technical Education’s next meeting is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology’s Executive Board Room, 1951 Pisgah Road, Florence.
On the Web: Florence-Darlington Technical College, http://www.fdtc.edu
Reader Reactions
Federal Income TAX,State Income TAX,Social Security TAX, Property TAX. Sales TAX, 50.4 cent PER GALLON fuel TAX,not to mention the local “road maintaince fees” , The lists go on and on and some people beleive We should Keep re-electing the same elected representatives who are, compared to 90 percent of the people they represent, are wealty or flat out rich !!! Don’t re-elect anybody Please let’s be deceived by somebody else…..
At least one of the posters asked “where is the money coming from? The writer then gave us the correct answer: Stimulus Money= money falling from the sky. Within the next four years, the US dollar will sink to the level of the chinese yen if the present administration has it’s way.
So once again, I will ask the question I’ve been asking, how is this money supposed to ‘stimulate’ the economy?
All it is doing is going to prop up the already over sized government and increasing the average joe’s tax burden!
The Stimulas is another tax we the people must pay for, We already are paying property taxes for theses schools,How does private schools survive without Government support ? If you beleive big government is the answer you must be a government employee, Who is paying for the high costs of crime? Does this money drop from the sky? Republicans, or Demacrats, none should be re-elected, at least we would be deceived by someone different….Stimulas money is “Borrowed” money from China that ,what’s left of the american workers must pay for. Taxes do not create they destroy the American way of life. Don’t re-elect anybody!!
The taxes we pay on some items and from our payroll checks support our state’s infrastructure and also education. You don’t have to accept a label of Democrat or Republican to know that. Sure it would be better to now have all these taxes but exactly how would these services be paid for? Would the money just magically fall from the sky? I would love to have more take-home pay but I do understand the infrastructure of our state, and nation as well, must be supported. (BTW, I don’t label myself a Democrat.)
We the tax payers are paying a “FEE” on every vechile and boat and motorcycle we try to own for Florence Darlington Tech, and now a stimulas Tax for more money, We are also paying 50.4 cents “PER GALLON” fuel tax, as well as a road maintiance “FEE”. If you can’t see what all these TAXES and FEES and doing to what’s left of your take home pay, You must be a Demacrate.IF you pay more TAXES or Government “FEES” and had less take home pay each week, would it be better for your family ...Think people!
RC Kirby
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