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Q&A
CUNY's capital project completion rates and improvement efforts
1:31:55
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Council Member Eric Dinowitz inquires about CUNY's current completion rate for capital projects, and Executive Vice Chancellor Hector Batista provides detailed information on the progress and challenges in this area.
- Completion rate has increased from 24% to 27%, with a goal of reaching 55%
- Historical completion rates fluctuated, with recent improvements (133% in 2022, 80% in 2023)
- CUNY faces challenges in aligning projects with available resources and coordinating city and state funding
Eric Dinowitz
1:31:55
What is the current completion rate for capital projects?
Hector Batista
1:31:59
Well, last year it was 24%.
1:32:01
We've increased it to 27%.
1:32:03
So we've have a 3% increase and and our goal is to get to 55%.
1:32:09
Right?
1:32:11
That's in the state of good repair.
1:32:13
With regards to completion rates, since the chancellor took office, let me give you some numbers.
1:32:18
In 2018, we had projects of about 58% of our projects were completed on time.
1:32:26
That jumped from 2019 to a 30% of our projects were completed on time.
1:32:32
It went down during the pandemic because of, you know, there was not a lot going on.
1:32:38
And but I'm happy to report that we're sort of back on track.
1:32:42
In 2022, we're at 133%.
1:32:45
In 2020 I mean, 2023, we're a 80%.
1:32:49
And and as of 2024, we're about 70%, but we still got some time to go.
1:32:55
I think the challenge for us when it comes to capital is making sure and I in my testimony, I talked a little bit about that.
1:33:02
Making sure that our capital, our projects are aligned with where the the resource are available.
1:33:08
Right?
1:33:08
Because what happens is if they're not aligned and we're waiting for that alignment, it creates a delay in the project.
1:33:16
That's the first problem.
1:33:17
Second problem, as you know, we get funding from the city council.
1:33:22
We have to wait for the state to provide the other half of that funding.
1:33:26
So that also creates so what we've done is we've done a lot of work under our vice chancellor for facility management.
1:33:34
We've done a lot of work to sort of be work with Dasney who is a construction partner.
1:33:41
But also we've brought in a lot of work in house to be able to take care of the smaller projects, to be able to be more nimble and be able to really deliver on those projects a lot quicker.
1:33:53
And we're seeing great results because of that.
1:33:56
And we're we're, you know, I think the challenge for us is for CUNY to get its facility to a state of good repair.
1:34:05
We need to spend about $600,000,000, get about $600,000,000 a year.
1:34:10
400,000,000 on four year schools, 200,000,000 on the two year schools.
1:34:15
And right now we haven't been getting those level of resources.
1:34:19
So obviously, we hope that we could continue to advocate and get your support on making sure that we get those resources.
Eric Dinowitz
1:34:26
And to be clear, those are additional funds you have asked OMB for?