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Heather Hummer, an art student at Missouri Western State University, adds another splash of color to her work in the art studio in Potter Hall on Friday. A proposal before the Missouri legislature could give the university $27 million to renovate the hall — something Ms. Hummer said is greatly needed. ‘We’re so cramped in here,’ she said. ‘We don’t even have enough easels for everybody.’

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Core funding for universities in Northwest Missouri is holding steady as lawmakers enter the final laps of the state budget process. But some local higher education money has lost ground or remains in question.

Still up in the air are a $27 million expansion of Potter Hall at Missouri Western State University and a $19.7 million building project at Northwest Missouri State University. The universities could see the funding under an $800 million bonding proposal for higher education construction projects. The House already has backed HJR 32, a constitutional amendment that would go before voters. The full Senate has yet to debate it, however.

Missouri Western is looking to significantly expand and renovate its fine and performing arts building, while Northwest aims to consolidate two academic buildings into one for energy conservation. The identified projects won’t be final until after voters approve the measure.

Regardless, university officials are relieved their general operating budgets didn’t get hacked as expected this session.

“Certainly a flat budget is better than the 15, 20, 25 percent (cutting) scenarios we were asked to prepare,” said Beth Wheeler, Western’s external relations director.

Gov. Jay Nixon kicked off his term this winter with a promise to community colleges and universities that he wouldn’t recommend any funding cuts for the 2009-2010 year as long as they pledged not to raise tuition for students. Republicans initially postured at the Democrat’s deal, but so far they’ve helped him keep his word — and then some.

House budget leaders originally recommended about $23.6 million for Missouri Western and $33.17 million for Northwest. Both total budgets were nearly identical to their current budgets, but as with all state universities, the House used federal budget stabilization money to offset dips in general revenue. The House slotted about $3.2 million in stabilization money for Northwest and about $2.82 million for Western.

If lawmakers tapped into the stimulus money, they couldn’t lower higher education budgets, explained House education appropriations chairman Rep. Mike Thomson, R-Maryville.

“(Gov. Nixon) isn’t really the reason things stayed the way they did,” Mr. Thomson said. “It was because of the federal stimulus money.”

If that stipulation hadn’t existed, “We would’ve gone ahead and done what we had to do,” he said.

The budgets held up through the House, but then the Senate tacked on even more stabilization funds to go specifically toward one-time maintenance needs. “It’s not very sexy stuff, but it surely is needed,” Ms. Wheeler said.

The Senate added $1.74 million to Western, bringing the total to about $25.4 million. Western intends to use the money for building tuckpointing, sidewalk improvements and swimming pool issues.

Senators added about $2.4 million to Northwest’s budget, which increased its overall operating money to nearly $35.62 million.

Northwest slotted the money specifically for campus energy conservation, such as changing out regular light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, said Ray Courter, Northwest’s vice president of finance.

While House and Senate appropriations leaders differ greatly on their philosophies regarding the federal stimulus money, House Budget Chairman Allen Icet told the News-Press he wouldn’t fight the Senate changes during budget conferences, which began last week. State lawmakers must approve a final state budget by Friday.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached

at alysonraletz@npgco.com.