Topeka ? A pipeline break that caused $1 million in damage at Kansas University Medical Center is becoming a rallying cry for university officials hoping to raise money for campus maintenance.

Regents on Wednesday indicated they would ask the Legislature to triple the state property tax levy dedicated to campus repairs when legislators reconvene in January.

The move comes just days after a water pipe broke at the Medical Center’s Murphy Hall. Damage caused is estimated at $1 million.

“As horrible as it is, the timing with this being a focus for the regents really puts an exclamation point on the need,” said Donald Hagen, executive vice chancellor for the Medical Center. “This is not just a drill. This is real life.”

The state currently spends $10 million a year on deferred maintenance projects. A 1-mill tax levy generates more than that, but some of the money is used to pay off bonds for the “crumbling classrooms” project initiated in the mid-1990s.

The regents’ plan would begin collecting 3 mills in taxes, generating $52 million a year for repairs. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 in assessed valuation.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway, who heads a regents council composed of state university CEOs, said the increase would allow universities to develop a 10-year plan to deal with backlogged maintenance.

Hemenway said regents’ estimates show state campuses have about $612 million in projects that need to be done.

“Deferring maintenance simply projects a poor image of the state to students, faculty, parents, alumni, whoever,” he said.

The condition of some facilities could be creating a liability for the state, Hemenway added.

Damage From a broken water pipe at Kansas University Medical Center's Murphy Hall will cost about million to repair.

To help prove his point, he showed regents the corroded pipe that burst early Sunday morning, flooding the building. Hemenway said university leaders were considering hiring the American Physical Plant Assn. to conduct an independent review of campus conditions.

Regent Dick Bond of Overland Park, who was elected chairman of the board for the coming year, said the board needed to gain the support of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to make the plan successful.

“I think the governor needs to be part of creating a solution, and hopefully include it in her State of the State (address) and be a co-advocate with legislative leaders on this,” Bond said.