The Western Board of Trustees approved collective bargaining agreements with three unions, including the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, and recommended a fiscal year 2006 budget for consideration by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) at the Board’s Sept. 10 meeting.

A base wage increase of 3.5 percent included in the three-year agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, representing 22 employees, was approved by the Board. Wage agreements calling for a 3.5 percent increase during the current fiscal year were adopted for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 417, representing 160 employees, and the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) technical/support staff unit, representing 43 employees.

A recommended fiscal year 2005-2006 operating budget of $106,650,400 was approved by the Board and will be forwarded to the IBHE for consideration. The budget asks for funds to support a salary increase of 6 percent, increased costs for library materials and other price increases. Included in the budget are requests for new and expanded programs to support deferred maintenance/campus infrastructure, $1,350,000; new Quad Cities campus faculty and staff positions and building operations and maintenance, $1,380,000; the Freshman First Year Experience initiative, $414,300; diversity initiatives, $250,000; classroom and instructional equipment, $1,405,000; and financial aid-student entrepreneur/volunteer grant program, $500,000.

The Board recommended an FY06 capital budget request of $84.8 million with the Performing Arts Center project on the Macomb campus listed again as the top priority at a cost of $53 million. The Western Quad Cities Riverfront Campus expansion project is the University’s second priority on the list at $15 million, followed by life safety improvement funds of $12 million and a request for a multicultural center at a cost of $3.6 million. The Board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the IBHE.

In other action items the Board named depositories for University funds, confirmed the 2004-2005 fiscal year budget allocations and established a 2005 meeting schedule. Depositories for the University include Bank of America, Quincy; Citizens National Bank, Macomb; First State Bank of Western Illinois, Macomb; LaSalle Bank, Chicago; Mid-America National Bank, Macomb; The Illinois Funds, Springfield; Union Bank/West, Macomb (note that an agreement to sell Union Bank/West to First Bankers Trust Company of Quincy is pending approval by regulatory authorities), US Bank, Rock Island; and US Bank, Springfield. Board committee meetings and board meetings are scheduled for 2005 on the following Fridays: March 11, June 3, Sept. 9 and Nov. 4. Sessions are on the Western campus in Macomb except for the June 3 meeting date at WIU Quad Cities.