The six universities the board governs “have managed to get rid of $123 million in deferred maintenance just from that,” she said. The session delved into how states approach deferred maintenance, a problem panelists described as “ballooning” and ready to explode. Ben Wilkerson, a doctoral student there, added these projects can “snowball from minor deferred maintenance into major capital repair.” Those costs include deferred maintenance, which can range from painting or replacing technology to renovating expensive heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. No More Low-Hanging FruitFrisbie said Kansas universities have torn down, or plan to tear down, 29 mission-critical buildings.