Support of Funding for the State Capital Budget

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/articles\/6101900-2019-state-legislative-agenda","target","_new"]],["a",["href","mailto:AIAW@aiaw.org","target","_new"]]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Below, please find written comments in support of funding for the 2019-21 State Capitol Budget that I submitted on behalf of members at the budget hearing on April 24 at UWGB. I encourage you to become familiar with the "],[0,[0],1,"AIA Wisconsin Legislative Agenda"],[0,[],0," and participate in the process. I welcome "],[0,[1],1,"your comments"],[0,[],0,". "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"***********"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"RE: STATE BUDGET HEARING \u2013 2019-21 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Co-Chairs and Members of the Joint Committee on Finance:"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Thank you for the opportunity to offer comments for your consideration in developing state budget recommendations for the next biennium."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Members of AIA Wisconsin, the state society of the American Institute of Architects, support state policies that protect the health and safety of the public, encourage sustainable economic development, and improve the quality of life across the state. Our comments today focus on the 2019-21 state capital budget."]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"We support a strong capital budget for the biennium that provides adequate funding for the state building program. It is important to protect our investment in state building facilities located in communities and on campuses across Wisconsin. This requires funding for needed repairs and renovations as well as new construction."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"With over 6,000 buildings, the state is the largest building owner in Wisconsin. While designed to withstand hard use and the test time, a quarter of state buildings are at the age where they require significant attention to meet today\u2019s needs and to operate efficiently."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"There is an estimated $5 billion backlog of repair and maintenance projects. Continuing to defer these projects will increase the future cost to taxpayers."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"We have been encouraged by the bipartisan support for a strong state building program. Last session, the Joint Finance Committee unanimously approved additional support for the building program, with funding over and above the capital budget recommendations of the Governor and State Building Commission. In addition, legislation that streamlines the state building program and shortens the timeline for state projects was enacted with overwhelming bipartisan support (2017 Wisconsin Act 237)."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Founded in 1911, AIA Wisconsin represents over 1,500 individual members, including architects in private practice, business, industry, government and education."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Thank you for your consideration of our support for a state capital budget that maintains and improves state building facilities."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Cordially,"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"AIA Wisconsin"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Paul F. Martzke, AIA"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"President"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"***********"]]]]}