Renovations and construction of campus buildings will continue amid a construction halt proposed by the Board of Regents at their meeting last week.

Recently appointed regent John Forsyth, Des Moines, proposed a year-long halt on construction at Iowa’s public institutions for next year.

The proposal will affect buildings constructed on Iowa’s public campuses funded through the State, under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.

Forsyth was unavailable for comment.

The proposal will be voted on during the next Board of Regents meeting, June 18 and 19.

Warren Madden, vice president of business and finances, said the funding necessary to complete the present construction on campus is already available.

“We are moving ahead with the current projects,” Madden said.

Current projects include the Gerdin Business College, Hoover Hall, the Carver co-laboratory and the Extension 4-H Young Building.

Madden said the potential renovations planned for campus buildings next year will be financed through private donations and university funds.

Regent Robert Downer, Iowa City, said he did not fully agree with Forsyth’s proposal, but would like to see guidelines drawn up for future construction plans. Downer said he does not want to see finances taken away from other programs in order to fund construction projects.

“I don’t want to see the institutions lose opportunities,” Downer said. “It is harder to get quality back than to maintain it when you have it.”

Iowa State is facing other budget challenges.

A two percent salary increase for ISU faculty and staff was rejected by the Iowa Legislature, leaving the University budget to make up the difference. The additional funds will come out of the individual departments and through fund raising.

While the salary increase was not huge, it was necessary to retain the best quality of staff members, Madden said.

The state is also reducing the operating appropriations budget provided to Iowa State by $7 million for the next year. Although the state has not yet signed the bill, Madden and other ISU officials have planned ahead for the reduction, Madden said.

The cuts in appropriations from the state may be offset through other means of funding, he said. If alternative funds are not available to make up the $7 million cut, funding from research projects and programs may need to be dropped.

“We hope there will be minimal impact,” he said.