Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1956 [PAGE 224]

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1955]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

221

graduate Division, and urged that further consideration be given to capital appropriations for this development. Two students also spoke in support of Mr. Vihon's presentation. President Morey replied in connection with the presentation of a report on the biennial budget and building program for 1955-57 which appears below. Mr. Nickell spoke of the over-all problem of the state of providing sufficient funds for all educational purposes, pointing out that even with additional revenues resulting from a possible increase in the sales tax the income of the state will not be sufficient to meet all of its needs. Mr. Livingston reviewed the emergency steps which were taken by the Board of Trustees and the administration of the University in 1946 to establish the Chicago Undergraduate Division indicating that University officials are aware of the higher educational needs in the Chicago area and that every effort has been and will continue to be made to provide for them, consistent with the University's other obligations and the resources of the state. President Megran expressed his appreciation to Mr. Vihon and the student delegation for their presentation, and the delegation withdrew.

B U S I N E S S P R E S E N T E D BY T H E P R E S I D E N T O F T H E UNIVERSITY

The Board considered the following reports and recommendations from the President of the University.

R E P O R T O N BIENNIAL O P E R A T I N G B U D G E T AND BUILDING PROGRAM F O R 1 9 5 5 - 5 7 (1) On February 7 representatives of the Board of Trustees and of the University administration appeared before the Illinois State Budgetary Commission. The operating and capital budgets, as approved by the Board on October 27, 1954, were presented. W e also presented the "Statement Concerning University of Illinois Biennial Budget Request for State Appropriations, 1955-57" a i } ^ t ' i e bulletin which has been prepared for general circulation, Your University of Illinois. Copies of these documents have previously been sent to the Trustees, and copies of the same are being filed with the Secretary of the Board as a part of the record of today's meeting. In recent weeks problems have arisen with respect to the capital budget that indicated the need of some revision, as follows: 1. By a change of standards with respect to residence hall facilities, it is now possible to reduce the construction cost about 20 per cent under the budget estimate. This would necessitate an appropriation of $2,000,000 (for 000 students) instead of $2,900,000 as originally estimated, t o be supplemented by a loan of $1,600,000. ( I t is possible to spread out even this $2,000,000 over a 25year period by providing an additional $125,000 per year in the general University operating budget.) 2. In the Chicago Professional Colleges it has not been possible to make necessary studies and reach basic decisions with respect to the Animal Hospital, the Library, or the Experiment Station. It is also felt that the full program of remodeling can not be carried out in one biennium. As a result, a total of $7,150,000 may be deferred to the succeeding biennium and in its place $100,000 provided for studies during the coming biennium. 3- In the Chicago Undergraduate Division several conditions have developed t° justify a delay in appropriation of funds for a site and to seek only funds for further educational and engineering studies. ( A special statement relating to this item is attached.) The net result of these changes is indicated in the revised building program which totals $22,955,000 instead of $37,185,000 as originally filed, a total of I •S 3,o5o,ooo to be deferred to the succeeding biennium.