Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 185]

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I82

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[January

14

MATTERS PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT WILLARD

T h e Board considered the following matters presented by the President of the University.

THE BIENNIAL BUDGET FOR 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 1 (1) At the meeting of the Board on December 17 the operating budget for the biennium of 1939-1941 was referred to the President of the University for review for the purpose of reducing it as much as possible in view of the financial situation confronting the State Government. Following the Board meeting I asked the Advisory Committee to the Bureau of Institutional Research to meet with me and placed before it the reasons which led the Board to request this review. This Committee had been designated by the University Council to make a study of the University's educational needs in the preparation of the operating budget, and it seemed to me that it should be consulted about the problem. Accordingly I requested the Advisory Committee to make a careful reappraisal of the educational and other operating needs of the University, in accordance with the Board's request for a thorough review of the budget before a final decision is reached. Permit me to review again the steps which have been taken in the preparation of the University's budget. On December 14, 1937, I asked the University Council of deans, directors, and faculty representatives, which advises the President on budgetary matters, to give preliminary consideration to the University's needs for 1939-1941. On February 4, 1938, the Council met for a discussion of the general policies to be followed in the preparation of this budget. It was the judgment of the Council that the budget as a whole should be based on the educational and scientific needs of the University; that since the budget for I 937 _ I 939. a s originally submitted to the Board (and prior to reductions of $1,250,000 made by the B o a r d ) , represented the minimum needs at that time, it follows that those needs for which provision was not made must be taken into consideration in addition to any new items. T h e Advisory Committee to the Bureau of Institutional Research was directed to make a study of the operating budget and the former Building P r o g r a m Committee to submit a report on building needs. T h e reports of these Committees were submitted to the Council in July, 1938, for study. On October 5, 1938, the Council met and made its recommendations which were presented to the Board on October 17 (Minutes, page 114). These recommendations provided for a total budget as follows: For Operating Expenses For Permanent Improvements Total $16 696 630 3 100 000 $19 796 630

The capital items in this recommendation included the following: 1. New Power and Heating Plant and Distribution System $2 000 2. Fire Protection and Improvements in Chemistry Building 100 3. Addition to Chemistry Laboratories 150 4. Agricultural Laboratories for Meats and Animal Nutrition, and Slaughter House 250 5. Fund to Serve as Basis for Financing Men's Dormitories 250 6. Equipment and Remodeling Chicago D e p a r t m e n t s . . . 150 7. General Improvements of Buildings and C a m p u s . . . . 200 Total $3 100

000 000 000 000 000 oco 000 000

No action was taken by the Board on October 17, but at an adjourned session held on October 24 the operating budget, totaling $16,696,630, as origi-