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Deferred Maintenance Backlog Down At KS Colleges

The list of needed repairs at Kansas' public universities is declining amid increased spending and low bids from contractors scrambling for work.

Nearly 40 percent of regents' university buildings were built during the 1960s and 1980s when there was huge growth in higher education. With those buildings now aging and requiring major repairs, the Kansas Legislature approved funding in 2007. Federal stimulus money also was used for repairs, but from 2008 to 2011, the repair estimate grew to $904 million from $825 million.

The Kansas Board of Regents director of facilities Eric King says this year, the deferred maintenance backlog is coming in at about $800 million. Regents Vice Chairman Fred Logan of Leawood says the story is "really positive."