University News
BOT Approves FY'17 Budget Recommendations
October 6, 2015
*REVISED*
MACOMB, IL -- The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees approved Fiscal Year 2017 operating budget and capital budget recommendations, as well as the FY'16 All-Funds Budget at its Oct. 2 Board meeting on the Macomb campus.
A recommended FY'17 operating budget increase of $7.8 million was approved as part of WIU's annual budget process and requests for state funding for salary increases, support for new programs, deferred maintenance and financial aid for students. Western's current FY'16 appropriated budget is $132.5 million. The proposed budget includes an additional $2.27 million to support salary and cost increases; $2 million for deferred maintenance; $1.6 million for the operation of the Quad Cities Riverfront Campus; $1.5 million for student financial aid; $250,000 for the healthcare professional education program; and $250,000 for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering program.
The Board also approved the Fiscal Year 2016 All-Funds Budget, which will be presented to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the General Assembly and Gov. Bruce Rauner. This budget assumes a state appropriation level of $48.1 million, which still needs to be passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor. The University's total operating budget for FY'16 is $246 million.
Other items approved by the Board of Trustees included a property easements immediately south of Q-Lot for the construction of a mobile telephone tower by SBA Communications; the second reading for revisions to student residency status regulations to include Missouri, Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin and to include information required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and the first reading to implement procedures for the modification of employment contracts for University personnel in situations other than financial exigency, including changes to the reassignment and termination regulations.
The Board also approved the AFSCME Clerical July 1, 2015-June 30, 2018 collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified Sept. 29. The agreement calls for an across-the-board increase of 2 percent in Fiscal Year 2016, 1 percent in Fiscal Year 2017 and a wage re-opener for the third year.
A vote for a proposed FY'17 capital budget request of $344.9 million resulted in a tie vote; therefore, the motion failed as presented. The FY'17 capital budget request will return for consideration at the Dec. 18 meeting. To meet the required submission deadline set forth by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Budget Director Matt Bierman will submit the FY'16 capital budget recommendation, which was approved by the Board of Trustees at its Oct. 3, 2014 meeting.
The next meeting of the WIU Board of Trustees will be held Dec. 17-18 on the WIU-Macomb campus.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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