Custodial and Maintenance Costs Increase at Higher Education Facilities
Custodial and maintenance costs make up a growing part of facilities operations expenses, accounting for 31% and 33% of total operating costs, respectively. According to the recently released 1999-2000 Comparative Costs and Staffing Report for Educational Facilities (CCAS), custodial operating costs have grown gradually over the past several years, representing approximately 24% of operating costs in 1994 and 27% in 1998.
Maintenance operating costs have grown from 23% in 1994 to 33% in 2000. According to APPA Executive Vice President Lander Medlin, the increase in maintenance costs is largely due to the aging of college facilities. Approximately 78% of campus buildings were constructed prior to 1980.