CHEYENNE - Citing rising construction costs in Wyoming's booming economy, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Wednesday the state will have to allocate more money for school construction.

Freudenthal said the state has a responsibility to make enough money available for the schools to meet state standards. Meanwhile, bids for school construction projects are coming in higher than estimates, and the $1.1 billion finance package for school construction was set up when the state's economy was flat and before steel and gasoline prices skyrocketed.

He said he does not expect a significant change in the school construction standards adopted by the School Facilities Commission.

Although some districts contend they are inadequate, Wyoming's school space standards are at the higher end of national construction standards, he said.

If the school districts want the standards adopted by the School Facilities Commission changed, they need to persuade the Legislature, he said. If the lawmakers change the standards, they need to find out how they apply to schools already built.

"We can't have one standard in Cheyenne and another in Casper," he said during a regular news conference.

Another factor in the school construction mix is the statewide decrease in student enrollment. In Green River, Freudenthal said, the district will have to close a grade school for lack of students.

The Legislature last winter appropriated $7.5 million for a new community facilities program to allow people to use vacant schools for community centers. Freudenthal said more money needs to be put into the program, and limitations in the new law need to be relaxed.

He said he also intends to push for considerably more money next year in the budget session to help communities build sewer and other infrastructure needs caused by growth from energy development.

During the last boom in the 1970s, the Legislature set up a $250 million fund financed by coal taxes as well as an industrial siting administration that required industries to help pay for community facilities. The Legislature last winter allocated only $10 million for impact assistance, but Freudenthal said that was "a big step" because it means the lawmakers recognize the problem.

Gillette, Rock Springs, Wamsutter and Pinedale are suffering huge impacts, he said.

On other topics, Freudenthal said:

* He expects to run for a second term in 2006, depending on whether the health of his wife, Nancy, is good. He said she had surgery for Meniere's disease, an inner ear problem.

"We're enjoying the job, and it's an interesting time," he said.

* He welcomes a decision by the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in an Indian gaming lawsuit that would allow the Wyoming Supreme Court to clarify the state's unclear gaming laws.

* He questioned the U.S. Forest Service's decision to allow further oil and gas leasing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, but commended the agency for scaling back from its original decision.

He said he is disturbed that the Forest Service won't deal with the air quality problem until it issues drilling permits. He said he may have to ask the Legislature for money so the state can do some air quality testing to establish a baseline.

Capital bureau reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at joan.barron@casperstartribune.net.