The odds that there will be a public four-year college or university in Santa Fe got extremely small Saturday as the Legislature came to an end without voting to acquire the College of Santa Fe campus.

With a special session likely to be called, there is still a possibility the campus could become public property, but considering the reception senators gave the proposal this session, it would be a steep uphill battle.

After approval from the House and the Senate Education Committee, House Bill 577 — the bill outlining the acquisition process — sat in the Senate Finance Committee for two weeks and never got a hearing.

"My concern and my interest was for the students primarily," said Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, who sponsored the bill.

Varela said he knew from the beginning that it would be a struggle to get the legislation passed but was concerned it "didn't get the courtesy of a hearing" in Senate Finance.

Along the way, there were differing estimates of how much it would cost to operate a college at the site and how much maintenance facilities would need.

Officials from New Mexico Highlands University — the only state school to take any formal steps to acquire the college — estimated it would take between $3 million and $7 million a year to operate the school and that buildings would need about $16 million in maintenance.

Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said it would cost more, citing amounts as high as $90 million for maintenance.

Even after the session closed Saturday, about 30 supporters of the college, mainly students and some staff, waved pennants and posters outside the east entrance to the Capitol.

Many had spent the night in tents and sleeping bags hoping their public show would prompt senators to vote on the measure.

"I'm disappointed at the lack of foresight in that the state is not willing to do what it takes to take advantage of this opportunity," said Adam New, a student at the college.

Irina Zerkin, a senior at the college and a student representative to its board of trustees, said she remains hopeful that something can be done to acquire the campus.

Other possibilities already are being discussed. Among them is the purchase of the campus by the state's General Services Department, which does not need legislative approval but would require an appropriation.

Santa Fe Mayor David Coss has also spoken with Gov. Bill Richardson about other options including either the city or county using its bonding authority to buy the campus.

College of Santa Fe President Stuart Kirk has also alluded to the possibility of a for-profit educational institution acquiring the college but was not specific.

In the meantime, the college is still facing various challenges, including finishing the spring semester and raising enough money to pay employees.

The college has already implemented salary cuts for all employees, and the college is facing foreclosure. The Radian Group, which insured $25 million in bonds on which the college has already defaulted, has had the right to foreclose on about 75 acres of the campus for the last four months.

College officials said this week that the insurance company was watching the events of the Legislature but has not taken any action toward foreclosure.

The college owes about another $9 million to First Community Bank and Laureate Education Inc. The college mortgaged about 25 acres for that amount.

Contact John Sena at 986-3079 or jsena@sfnewmexican.com.