DENVER -- The presidents of the University of Colorado at Denver, Metropolitan State College and the Community College System said lawmakers should place a higher priority on the new science building under construction on the Auraria campus.

Work crews are digging a hole for the foundation of the new science building along Speer Boulevard.

Legislators put the project on hold last Thursday when they cut $60 million from the state capital construction budget.

"That wasn't an easy decision," said state Rep. Bernie Buescher, chairman of the Joint Budget Committee. "There are a half dozen projects that three months ago we thought we could fund. But when we saw revenue decreasing ... we made those tough decisions to say we cannot spend money that we do not have."

CU-Denver Chancellor Roy Wilson said the shifting priorities are confusing.

He held up a final capital construction priority list dated March 4, which shows the science building ranked 18th. On March 20, when the budget was cut, a new list came out that shows the science building had dropped to 31st place.

Thirteen projects that had been ranked below the science building are now ahead of it. Those 13 projects represent $65 million in spending.

"What occured was a clear example of pure politics during decision making. None of those projects that leapfrogged the science building represented a greater need or better investment for the taxpayers of Colorado," Wilson said.

Wilson and the three presidents note that the Auraria campus is bulging at the seams. There are more than 39,000 students on the campus which was designed for 15,000.

"We have a space shortage," said Dean Wolf, executive vice president of the Auraria Higher Education Center. "In fact, this shortage is so critical that we've had to resort to bringing trailers (mobile classrooms) onto the campus."

Wolf said the existing science building is not only too small but is unsafe.

"In the past few months, I've had to close labs twice because of air quality conditions," he said.

Wolf said the labs are so heavily used that air handling systems can't keep up with the chemical fumes.

"We've had to advise pregnant students about the dangers of taking classes in this building," said Joan Foster, dean of Arts and Letters at Metro State.

CU System president Bruce Benson, Metro State president Stephen Jordan and Community College System president Nancy McCallin said the new science building is a critical priority.

"We all know that in the 21st century the job growth is going to be in the science, technology, engineering and math fields," McCallin said. "What are we saying when we have a facility here that A, is not sufficient in terms of space, and B, is not safe?"

But the head of the JBC said, "When we look at the amount that we can spend on capital construction, the priority has to be on those projects that can be completed with dollars that we know are going to be available."

"I'd ask them why they dug the foundation before they had the funding," Buescher added.