Colleges are focusing increased effort--and money--to improve the physical condition of existing facilities and address a huge backlog of deferred maintenance. According to "American School & University's" 36th annual Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Cost Study, the median college spends 16.4% of total college budget on M&O, up from 11% the year…

An annual survey of school maintenance and operations (M & O) funding concludes, among other detailed findings, that budgets continue to shrink in the face of a weak economy--the sixth year of dropping budgets and the smallest level since the survey began. (EV)

Spending by school districts on maintenance and operations increased in 2006-2007, reversing years of historic low expenditures. According to "American School & University's" 36th annual Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Cost Study, the median school district spends 9.19% of total district expenditures (TDE) on M&O, up from 7.58% the year before.…

By using an energy audit, the Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12 (Colorado) identified fuel-consuming areas in its schools and reduced the annual increases for fuel from 25 to 5 percent. Six steps to energy savings will work for other districts as well. (JW)

An annual survey of college maintenance and operations (M & O) funding concludes, among other detailed findings, that college spending held steady this year, even in tough economic times. (EV)

Claims that school maintenance budgets should be organized into no more than three categories: buildings; equipment repair and replacement; and grounds and outdoor facilities. Several simple budgeting formulas are provided. (WM)

The costs of owning and operating physical facilities are consuming an increasing share of the budgets of colleges and universities. In the past, academic and operating units of colleges have viewed their space as a free commodity and often used it extravagantly. Space costing is a method of cost accounting the space and operating and maintenance…

Reaffirms necessary elements for the successful operation of college purchasing and maintenance programs (e.g., purchasing calendar, bidding procedures, vendor selection, contracting services, budgeting for maintenance, and workforce analysis). Discusses ways some colleges are saving on operating costs (e.g., solar energy, energy management,…

Comparisons are drawn between budgeted maintenance and operations costs for 1983-84 and the preceding 2 years' actual costs. Also provided is a summary of a 10-year comparison of net current expenditures per student, compared with maintenance and operations costs per student. Data are presented for 10 geographical regions. (MLF)

Comparisons are shown between budgeted maintenance and operations costs for 1982-83 and the preceding two years' actual costs. Also provided is a summary of a 10-year comparison of net current expenditures per student, compared with maintenance and operations costs per student. Data are presented for 10 geographical regions. (MLF)

Comparisons are shown between budgeted maintenance and operations costs for 1981-82 and the preceding two years' actual costs. Also provided is a summary of the past 11 years' costs. The largest cost increase is in heating fuel. Data are presented for 10 geographical regions and seven school size categories. (MLF)

School districts during 1980-81 again incurred maintenance and operations cost increases at a higher rate than inflation. Data from individual school districts are divided into 10 geographical regions for computation of regional averages. The districts are also divided into seven size categories that do not reflect regional influences. (Author/MLF)

Maintenance and operations (M&O) requirements dominate the life-cycle cost of a school facility. Historically, facility managers have struggled to secure funding to meet these requirements. Many deferred-maintenance issues result directly from M&O underfunding. However, new approaches and technologies now enable facility managers to use…

Issues concerning the conditions of college facilities are considered in 29 papers from the 1985 annual meeting of the Association of Physical Plant Administrators of Universities and Colleges. Papers and authors include: "Crumbling Academe" (Harvey H. Kaiser); "Physical Facilities Evaluation" (Henry L. Shelby); "Managing…

The 1980-81 data for 43 provincially assisted universities and affiliated institutions in Ontario regarding appropriated reserves and unappropriated funds arising from university operating accounts are presented. Opening and closing fund balances are shown for the beginning and end of the 1980-81 fiscal year, and operating fund activity during the…