LSCS delays construction at North Harris, approves budget

The Lone Star College System delayed the construction of 2014 bond projects. The district also approved its nearly $350 million budget in August.

The delayed campus facilities include a $21 million general instructional building at the North Harris campus, said Amos McDonald, vice chancellor of government and public relations at LSCS. No projects at LSC-Kingwood have been delayed, Media Relations Manager Bill Van Rysdam said.

“[North Harris] hasn’t grown at the same rate as when the bond was originally formed, and we will use those funds elsewhere,” McDonald said.

Voters approved a $485 million bond referendum in 2014 that provided funds for projects at all six LSCS campuses.

The college system also approved a $347.6 million budget for 2016-17, which includes a projected new tax rate of 10.78 cents per $100 valuation on Aug. 4. The final tax rate could be approved Oct. 6. 

The 2015-16 tax rate was 10.79 cents per $100 valuation. The budget included a tuition increase of $2 per credit hour and a $4 per credit hour increase in differential fees this semester.

The college system’s budget will fund 20 new faculty members and a 2 percent raise for all full and part-time employees in 2016-17.