House plan would give Evansville IU med school $36 million

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A House Republican spending plan includes nearly twice as much for a medical school campus in downtown Evansville as Gov. Mike Pence set aside in his proposed budget.

The House GOP budget released Monday calls for $36 million in financing for the regional Indiana University medical school campus.

The state would cover $32 million for IU and project partners Ivy Tech Community College and the University of Southern Indiana. The private University of Evansville would account for $4 million. Partner schools plan health science programs at the medical school campus.

The Evansville Courier & Press (http://bit.ly/1zl515s ) reports Pence's budget includes $19.2 million in cash for construction of the campus.

Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said the House's funding increase "sends the message that legislators around the state understand its importance." Schools involved with the project had asked for nearly $50 million following the announcement of the site's location last year.

The House plan would include bond issuances to help pay for the project. State Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, said bonds make sense with interest rates low.

The state House Ways and Means Committee, which is chaired by Brown, could vote on the spending plan as soon as Wednesday.

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com