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Capital Development Committee

Thursday, February 19, 2026·48m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Colorado Capital Development Committee approved two CSU cash projects and authorized History Colorado mineral rights disposal legislation, but deferred action on a controversial $50 million HVAC replacement request after members expressed sharp skepticism about costs that exceed the original construction price of the entire Laurel Village facility. The committee also unanimously directed staff to send comments to the Senate Education Committee on SB 26-078, a bill that would reduce CDC oversight of cash-funded higher education construction projects.

Key Actions

·CSU Cash Request – Conservation Easement (Higher Ground Headwaters Forest Legacy)Passed

+ 4 more actions

Controversies

HVAC replacement cost ($50 million) versus original Laurel Village construction cost ($36 million)

Madam Vice Chair [UNCLEAR identity] stated 'More than it costs to build three buildings, including an H vac system. I'm astounded' and later 'it seems to me that this would be triple digit inflation in this case. I'm having a hard time buying this.' Mike Singleton attributed the cost to construction industry inflation — 'many years with double digit inflation increases on construction cost index' since 2013 — and the complexity of replacing a distributed system in an existing building, noting the project is currently tracking at approximately $45 million, not the full $50 million requested.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Singleton. Mr. Hanlon, we did get a memo from you this morning or from CSU this morning on this. I'm going to preface anything I say that there that I think hopefully everyone has issues with this, that, , that we're spending these dollars on a building that we probably shouldn't be spending these dollars on with its age. I think one of the things I'm focused on though, because we can't go and change the past, we can be upset about it, but we don't have that ability is I'm really focused on what has been put in to make sure this doesn't happen again. Because”

Mike Singleton — Singleton was describing the current living conditions for the 679 students residing at Laurel Village while the committee weighed whether to approve the $50 million HVAC replacement request.

Votes

CDC to approve the conservation easement Higher Ground Headwaters Forest Legacy for Colorado State Forest Service as a cash project at a cost of $4 millionPassed
Yes (1)Story
No (2)Elton [UNCLEAR — likely Pelton, Winter
CDC to approve the upgrade heating plant sustainability capital renewal project at a cost of $29.6 millionPassed
Yes (3)Elton [UNCLEAR — likely Pelton, Winter, Story
CDC provide authority to introduce a draft bill focused on History Colorado to dispose of mineral rights in Weld County, Colorado and Tyler County, West VirginiaPassed
Yes (3)Elton [UNCLEAR — likely Pelton, Winter, Story
CDC direct staff to draft a letter to the Senate Education Committee regarding Senate Bill 26-078 with CDC's comments pursuant to Senate Rule 42 [UNCLEAR — 'state rule 42' or 'Senate rule 42']Passed
Yes (3)Elton [UNCLEAR — likely Pelton, Winter, Story
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TranscriptPreview
Capital Development Committee will come to order. Ms. Forbes, please call the roll. Senators and Representatives. Henriksen. Here. Lindsey. Here. Pelton. Here. Winter Morning story here. And Mr. Chair here. Members, we do have a few things on the calendar today. First on the list is from our last meeting, which is the consideration of two year cash requests from CSU. If you want to come on up, I have Mr. Hanlon on the agenda and for the committee's reference and for Mr. Hanlon's reference. We will be breaking up the projects individually to vote on them. Individually, the three different projects. Thank you for joining us, Mr. Hanlon. I do see you have a partner, it looks like. If you want to introduce yourself. I know from last meeting, Mr. Hanlon, there were some questions I think that the committee got some answers for on the bonding issue. I think that sounds like there may be still some outstanding questions on one of the projects around the H Vac project. And so I think that's maybe what we're here to talk about. Maybe. I don't know if anyone has any conversations or questions on any of the other projects,…
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