<p>The University of Florida would receive $95.2 million in state money for building projects this year, under a proposal approved by the state Board of Governors on Thursday.</p>
<p>The proposal, which still requires legislative approval, would fast-track funding for a new center to fight infectious diseases at UF and begin the first year of funding for a new building at UF's College of Veterinary Medicine.</p>
<p>UF's proposed Veterinary Education and Clinical Research Center, which would house a small-animal hospital, is the only new project approved by the board for the university this year.</p>
<p>Most university building projects are funded by the Legislature over the course of three years, and the board urges lawmakers to complete funding of projects that already have begun before funding any new projects. UF has two projects that have already received some legislative funding, which include the "emerging pathogens" center for fighting infectious diseases and a biomedical sciences building. Per usual, the board has recommended that the Legislature continue funding both of those projects so they can be completed.</p>
<p>Getting the first of three years of funding for UF's Veterinary Education and Clinical Research Center this year would be a significant step for the college, according to Glen Hoffsis, the college's dean. The facility will house a new small-animal hospital, which would primarily be used for treatment of cats and dogs. The facility would replace the existing small-animal hospital, which was built in the 1970s.</p>
<p>A strong small-animal hospital is of great importance to the college, not only because it allows for clinical training but also because it helps to generate revenue for the college, Hoffsis said. About one-fourth of the revenue required to run the college's research and teaching efforts comes from the hospital, Hoffsis said.</p>
<p>"This (hospital) is a way the state of Florida gets its veterinarians educated," Hoffsis said.</p>
<p>The College of Veterinary Medicine raised more than $4 million on its own to fund the $57 million facility, and state matching funds bring the value of those private donations up to $8 million.</p>
<p>Money for university building projects is drawn from a tax on utilities called the Public Education Capital Outlay, which is commonly abbreviated as PECO. The board approves PECO projects by considering universities' top building priorities each year.</p>
<p>This year, the board has approved $544 million in building projects across the state's 11 public universities.</p>