Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1920 [PAGE 36]

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32

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[July 17.

carrying for it a large part of the expense for teacher training, involving a net expense to the University of perhaps $10,000 to $12,000. The most serious increase in the budget for the coming year occurs under the head of Physical Plant Operation and Maintenance and Building Betterments, for which the Supervising Architect asks the sum of $395,ooo, instead of $313,450 allowed in the last budget. This is in consequence of the rapid rise in wages in the Department of Physical Plant Operation and E x tension and of the extraordinary rise in the price of coal. The estimate of expense for the office of the Registrar is somewhat less than last year, and for the Business Office somewhat more. T h e total expenditure for the administrative offices, however, is estimated at the same figure as last year. In the general departments, a slight increase is asked for the Library; a slight increase for the Military and Band Departments; and the request for Publications anad General Expenses will be the same, tho there will be a considerable shifting of expenditure items. While the total expense of the different departments is not essentially different from last year, it is proposed to make a considerable readjustment between the items in the matter of salaries. T h e sum total of the salary budget in each of the colleges is less than it was last year or only slightly more. W e have been compelled to advance the average salary of positions under the State Civil Service. W e should advance much more than we can the salaries of instructors and associates, but we shall have to make a special plea with the next Legislature to so readjust our income as to enable the University to advance the salaries very sharply or we shall lose a great many of our very best men and women. The increase of wages and salaries in the Agricultural department has been rendered somewhat easier by the increased funds from the Federal Government. At the same time, it has been necessary to advance these salaries in order to meet the competition which the other institutions in the country have been able to make, owing to similar grants. I recommend that the Board of Trustees approve the preliminary budget herewith submitted and authorize the President of the University to adjust the details of salaries and expenses and promotions at his discretion within the sum total of the Budget.

On motion of Mr. Can*, the summary of expenditures was approved and the President of the University was authorized to adjust the detailed expenditures within the sum total involved. The vote was as follows: Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Busey, Mr. Carr, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Taggart, Mr. Trimble, Mr. Ward, Miss Watson; noes, none; absent, Mr. Lowden, Mr. Trevett.