Robinson Center needs a new roof. Lindley Hall needs a new elevator. An annex to Lindley Hall is waiting to be razed.

Those projects were on a list of Kansas University campus improvements set for next year, but they’ll have to be put off at least another year because of a cutback in state funds designated for building rehabilitation and repair.

The issue has reignited debate about how the state can afford to pay for an estimated $670 million in backlogged maintenance projects at its six state universities.

“It’s something the state can’t back away from, even when times are tough,” Chancellor Robert Hemenway said.

Members of the Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday discussed how to address the maintenance problem, both for next year and into the future.

The cutbacks for next year came after the Kansas Legislature appropriated $13 million during the 2004 and 2005 fiscal years out of the Educational Building Fund, which provides money for university repairs.

Trouble is, the governor’s budget office now says there is only $10 million available in the fund each of those two years. That’s roughly the same amount universities have received in previous years.

Because much of this year’s money already has been spent or committed, the budget office decided to reduce next year’s allocation by $6 million.

The result for KU is projects initially earmarked for next year will be postponed. KU still will receive just over $2 million for projects such as fire code and mechanical improvements at Malott Hall, improvements to the tunnels that carry the university’s utility lines, and campus lighting.

Kansas University senior Branden Warden, Springfield, Mo., enters the Lindley Hall Annex. KU doesn't have the funds to raze the building, which is currently used as a workshop for architecture students. Warden worked on a concrete project Thursday inside the building.

“It’ll just put us further behind in terms of deferred maintenance on campus” said Jim Long, vice provost for facilities planning and management.

A fall 2002 report identified $672 million in backlogged maintenance projects at state universities. Eric King, the regents’ director of facilities, estimates that number is now closer to $680 million because of inflation, despite the annual appropriations.

“We’re not even keeping pace to keep the backlog at the same rate,” King said.

KU has identified about $150 million in deferred maintenance projects. Long noted that KU had 125 buildings on its Lawrence campus, with an average age of 45 years.

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“It’s a very important responsibility to maintain these facilities,” Long said. “It’s a challenge and it’s a responsibility.”

Developing a long-term solution to the problem has become an issue for regents and some legislators. One regents study showed performing all of the deferred maintenance projects would require $57 million annually in bonds for 20 years.

“We continue to add more and more square feet that require more and more funds,” said Regent Jim Grier of Wichita.