WMU News

Trustees approve 1999-2000 general fund budget

June 29, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved a final general fund operating budget of $229.19 million for the 1999-2000 fiscal year that ends June 30.

That total includes $116.5 million in state appropriations and $91.1 million in tuition revenue. The total is always different from the estimated budget adopted by the board at the start of the fiscal year because of "inevitable alterations," according to Dean Honsberger, director of the Office of University Budgets.

Changes include funds reserved for specific purposes in various operating units of the University, such as funds for pooled equipment, sabbatical leaves and compensation improvement. In addition, there also are programmatic funding adjustments within various administrative units.

"It has been our practice to reconcile the final budget with actual dollars spent in June of each year," Honsberger said. "The adjustments for 1999-2000 are standard and were expected."

As has been done in the past, the board also approved a statement of intent from administrators to carry unspent balances into the following fiscal year. According to Honsberger, this policy provides the University's fiscal managers with flexibility to make purchases when needed, which may not necessarily be at the end of the budget year. "This approach encourages wise spending and prevents a flurry of purchasing as the June 30 date nears," he said.

Trustees also authorized the administration to continue normal operations of the University under the existing budget authority, pending the Board's approval of a budget for the 2000-01 fiscal year that starts July 1. That approval is expected this fall, following finalization of WMU's state appropriations for the coming year.

Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu


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