University of South Florida officials indicated Wednesday they expect to decide in the next couple of months whether to propose a new medical school complex for downtown Tampa or at the universitys main campus.

Its sooner than later, within a month or two, that we will really have everything down, USF President Judy Genshaft said during a committee meeting of the State University Systems board of governors in Jupiter.

USF appeared before the facilities committee seeking $17 million next year to keep the new Morsani College of Medicine project moving. The board of governors submits a proposed higher-education budget to state lawmakers.

Whether the governors recommend approval could rest on how fast the university nails down a location.

The only thing I ask is to get more detail, committee member Mori Hosseini said. Right now, youre asking for $17 million. Thats a big ask.

Medical school funding is one of four big-ticket requests USF presented to the committee Wednesday. The others: $15.8 million for USF Healths new Heart Health Institute, $6 million for a new marine research ship, and $12.3 million for a new College of Business building on the USF Saint Petersburg campus.

USFs $51 million wish list is part of nearly $900 million in capital requests from the states 12 public universities.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has called the possibility of a downtown medical school a game-changer, and Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, a major downtown landowner, has expressed support for university leaders as they explore the option.

Morsani College Dean Charles Lockwood said Wednesday that USF is studying the idea of putting the new school downtown and weighing whether that would be best for students and the community.

A lot of the ultimate costing and some of the other nuances of this building are going to be highly dependent on where this is located, Lockwood said. Downtown, it may cost more or less, depending on the architectural arrangements that need to be made.

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Money for new USF medical school hinges on downtown