By Angela Hatton
Paducah, KY – The McCracken County Fiscal Court is set to vote Friday on whether it will help fund a Murray State University campus expansion in Paducah. The university purchased land between Buckner Lane and Blandville Road in 2008 for the campus. Cuts to higher education have prevented MSU from moving forward with the project. The extended campus would offer some four year programs, and MSU officials say it would provide a transition from West Kentucky Community and Technical College. McCracken County Deputy Judge Executive Doug Harnice says the city and county plan to vote to bond ten million dollars for the project. Harnice says they will likely pay for half, with MSU responsible for the other half. The fiscal court votes Friday at five, while the city plans to discuss the project and possibly vote May 17. The MSU Board of Regents will also discuss the campus expansion at its next meeting, May 20. The university has not issued a formal statement regarding the vote.