UF and UNF in running for Jacksonville campus work. What's the latest in Legislature?

David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union
Updated ·3 min read
University of Florida board Chairman Mori Hosseini announces plans on Feb. 7 to explore building a graduate-level campus in Jacksonville. The state Legislature will decide how much money to put toward the potential campus in the 2023-24 budget.
University of Florida board Chairman Mori Hosseini announces plans on Feb. 7 to explore building a graduate-level campus in Jacksonville. The state Legislature will decide how much money to put toward the potential campus in the 2023-24 budget.

A possible University of Florida graduate campus in Jacksonville picked up support for $50 million from the state House of Representatives, but it's a different story in the Senate where the campus got $5 million in the budget version approved by that chamber.

The University of North Florida also is in the running for a chunk of state money for its Coggin College of Business building as lawmakers hammer out next year's spending. But like the UF campus in Jacksonville, the House and Senate budget versions diverge on how much state money should go toward UNF campus improvements.

The final amount for each campus will depend on how the state House of Representatives and state Senate mesh their budgets this month while heading toward adjournment on May 5.

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House and Senate have big gap in funding for UF campus

The 2022-23 budget version approved by the House contains $50 million for the proposed UF Health and Financial Technology Graduate Education Center in Jacksonville. The budget approved by the Senate puts $5 million toward the campus, far less than the $50 million sought by UF for it.

House Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, who filed the request on behalf of UF, said he is confident the final budget will come in at the higher amount of funding for the proposed Jacksonville campus.

"I am optimistic," he said. "I expect that the two chambers will resolve the disparity in conference."

He said it's possible the amount could end up higher that $50 million since budget conference talks can result in more money, such as what happened last year with state funding for the UF Health Jacksonville trauma center and emergency room.

Jacksonville City Council backed $20 million last month for the future campus, the first of a three-year commitment totaling $50 million by the city. UF officials have said private donors must commit another $50 million toward the campus for it to move forward.

What would the UNF expansion entail?

The budget approved by the House contains $26.3 million for building improvements at the Coggin College of Business, which has been named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best business schools for 16 consecutive years.

The state Legislature is considering $26.3 million for renovating and expanding the Coggin College of Business buildings at the University of North Florida.
The state Legislature is considering $26.3 million for renovating and expanding the Coggin College of Business buildings at the University of North Florida.

The work will expand the Coggin building by adding 27,750 gross square feet, which would more than double its size, while also upgrading mechanical, plumbing and electric systems that are more than 25 years old, according to UNF.

UNF will use the bigger space to expand degree offerings such as master of science in logistics and supply chain management, master of science in management, and master of science in business analytics.

The House version also pencils in $7.4 million for remodeling the Brooks College of Health at UNF.

The Senate version of the budget contains just $9 million for the Coggin School of Business and no money for the Brooks College of Health.

What's next for the budget talks?

The legislative sessions run through May 5 and lawmakers face big gaps on some individual projects.

The Senate version contains $58 million for a health science building at Florida Gulf Coast University and another $14.5 million for renovating Reed Hall at that university. The House version does not have money for the health science building and it has $4.8 million for Reed Hall.

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, represents a district in Southwest Florida. Florida Gulf Coast University is the state university in that part of Florida.

On the House side, Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, has spoken favorably about a UF campus in Jacksonville. Renner's district does not contain Jacksonville but he has long-time ties to the city.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: UF and UNF seeks money from Florida Legislature for Jacksonville