MSBA Board for October: big news!

as reported on the MASC page

The Mass School Building Authority met this morning, and made some significant changes to the programs they oversee, funded by the Fair Share amendment and changes made in the FY24 budget.

The first set of changes was to the cost funding limit per square foot that the MSBA will cover in a core project. Going forward, the Board voted to raise this amount from $393 per square foot to $550 per square foot. Additionally, going forward, the Board voted to include up to $55 per square foot for sitework. Overall, then, starting with the projects moved into Project Scope and Funding today, the total construction cost funding limit will be $605 per square foot.  

Additionally, the Board approved adjustments to the total facilities grant available for projects approved prior to October 1, 2022, moving to $393 per square foot and $39 per square foot for sitework; this includes 30 projects. For projects approved after October 1, 2022 and before October 1, 2023, an increase to $516 per square foot and $52 per square foot in site work was approved; this includes nine projects. 

Finally, the Board approved plans for an accelerated repair program, with applications opening in January 2024. This program will run biannually, with $150M allocated each year. It will be open only to window and roof projects; roof projects will include a study of feasibility of roof repair in the requirements. The MSBA will seek a contractor to study funding heat pumps moving forward, as the program will no longer include boilers. The MSBA will also be reviewing accessibility requirements and eligibility determinations for expanded  HVAC items. 

The above was made possible by action within the FY24 state budget, including an the increase to the annual MSBA cap, the removal of the accelerated repair program from the cap, a $100M supplemental grant, and the increase to the allowable rate of growth. 

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Inquiring minds want to know: What does this mean for Worcester? Excellent question!

First, let's note that EVERY aspect of this is related to work that the Worcester School Committee specifically asked for: back in January, we had three asks for the budget:

1. That the cap on the MSBA be lifted. It was in the state FY24 budget, and that allowed for much of the above.
2. That the accelerated repair program be restored. Via Senator Michael Moore's budget amendment (filed SPECIFICALLY because we asked), accelerated repair was placed outside the MSBA cap, and thus restored.
3. That the inflationary increases due to the pandemic of the current building projects be state covered (at least partly). Of the FY24 budget Fair Share allocation, $100M is for these inflationary increases. 

So GO WORCESTER!

What will it do for us?

• On inflation: the Doherty building project experienced $24M in inflationary costs. The city will need to submit documentation, so we don't know yet how much it will be, but at least some of that cost is now going to be covered.
  Maybe this means we get the solar panels back?
  
  
• On accelerated repair: remember the budget always has a facilities plan, and that includes projected accelerated repair submissions: 
  
  
  
  

  This will need to be tweaked, of course, now that the MSBA is no longer taking boilers, but yes, we have a plan ready to go.
  
  
• On upcoming projects: it makes a Burncoat project a lot more do-able if we have this increased square foot rate. 
  

Good news across the board! If you worked for any of the above, YOU DID THIS!