The New Haven Register, 3/11/2004, Gregory B. Hladky, Capitol Bureau Chief

But Marc S. Ryan, Gov. John G. Rowland’s top budget aide, said the state still hasn’t agreed to the $69 million in additional state funding needed for the proposed campus, which is estimated to cost $140 million.

The legislature has already authorized $61 million in state bond money for the project.

Ryan and New Haven lawmakers said any agreement on getting that money is likely to be tied to reductions in the city’s requests for state money on other city projects.

"I fully expect we’ll have to give something up to help the kids at Gateway," said state Rep. Patricia Dillon, D-New Haven. State Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, also said Rowland’s administration is talking about eliminating the city’s requests for state funding for one or more smaller projects.

One project that may be on that cutback list is the proposed demolition of New Haven’s Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, at a cost of $8 million, according to state Rep. Toni E. Walker, D-New Haven.

Walker said there have been no agreements yet on dropping any project from the proposed funding list and that lawmakers from New Haven and neighboring communities still need to discuss such issues.

But Ryan said administration officials "have no intention ever of paying for the Coliseum’s demolition — that would have to be on the city’s dime."

The Gateway issue was part of a $139 million bonding bill approved Wednesday 33-2 in the Senate and 144-4 in House.

It also includes $30 million for several projects at Southern Connecticut State University, including $23.3 million to allow it to go out to bid for a major renovation of Buley Library.

The rest of the SCSU funds support upgrades at Earl Hall, Jennings Hall and various code compliance work on campus.

In addition to jump-starting the project, Dillon said the legislative vote on Gateway commits the state to the Church Street site and to a consolidated campus.

Looney agreed, saying the legislation recognizes the need for a new facility for Gateway, which he said is "bursting at the seams" with students.

The majority leader said the administration has indicated it might be willing to support requested state funding for both Gateway and other major downtown projects, if the city agrees to pay for several "smaller projects" itself.

"We’re getting closer to an understanding with the administration," said Looney, who refused to discuss what projects the city might be asked to pay for by itself.

Ryan, however, was adamant that there has been no agreement as yet. "I’ve made no commitments, the governor has made no commitments," he said. According to Ryan, any approval of the Gateway funding would have to be linked to proposals to move the Long Wharf Theater to a new downtown facility.

Ryan said the two projects’ overall cost could total $200 million, "and this state can’t afford that."