SAN MARCOS -- The state budget crisis has forced Cal State San Marcos to suspend a major construction project for at least 90 days, campus officials said Thursday.

A contractor began building a 106,000-square-foot social and behavioral science building near the center of campus just before Christmas. Part of a long-term master plan for the campus's development, the $27.5 million project was being carried out with money from state bonds.

Gary Cinnamon, associate vice president for facilities and development for the university, said contractor Edge Development had just started work on the project when California State University Chancellor Charles Reed told all 23 of the system's campuses to stop their state-funded construction projects.

The late-December order, which mirrors ones that have halted other projects throughout California, came because the state is running out of cash to pay for them, Cinnamon said.

The problem is the result of a recession that has sharply reduced the amount of tax and other revenue the state expects to receive and left California with a state deficit projected at $42 billion over the next 18 months.

Cinnamon said the CSUSM construction site is now fenced and will remain so until the suspension is lifted. He predicted that will happen before the 90-day period is up.

"From my standpoint, I'm not worried," he said. "I know there's a lot of discussions, and all of this is tied into the state budget negotiations."

Another state-funded project at CSUSM -- $1.7 million worth of improvements at an existing science building that will add two laboratories for students in the university's pre-nursing program -- is in the bidding phase.

"Since there's really no costs involved on our part in bidding, we're going to continue the bidding process," Cinnamon said. "If the money doesn't become available by the time we need to award the (contract), then we will be able to cancel it and rebid it when the money becomes available."

Other CSUSM construction projects, including a six-story parking structure and a conference center, are not affected because no state money is involved, he said.

City officials have said the social and behavioral sciences building's addition is important because it will enable the university to bring its psychology, sociology, communications and mass media, economics, political science, anthropology, liberal studies and human development programs together under one roof for the first time.

Originally scheduled to open in January 2011, the new building will include classrooms, lecture halls, 125 faculty offices, small conference rooms and a research area for graduate students.

Russ Decker, director of planning, design and construction for the university, said the suspension push the opening day off until summer or fall 2011.

"But that's a question we'll have to address as we get closer to it," he said.

Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.