Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 337]

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336

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 24,

Jensen and her family, with an expression of the Board's sympathy in the great loss they have suffered.

On motion of General Davis, this resolution was adopted.

MATTERS PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT STODDARD

The Board considered the following matters presented by the President of the University.

BIENNIAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR 1 9 4 7 - 1 9 4 9 (1) On April 5, 1947, Senator Everett R. Peters, Chairman of the Illinois Budgetary Commission, held an all-day conference with officials of the University of Illinois to make an analysis and revision of the biennial budgetary requests. The following officials took part: Park Livingston, President of the Board of Trustees, George D. Stoddard, President of the University, Coleman R. Griffith, Provost, and Lloyd Morey, Comptroller. At the close of the meeting, Senator Peters stated that he was convinced the lowest amount on which the University can operate during 1947-1949 is $60,083,018. This is a reduction of $5,000,000 in the original University budget approved by the Board of Trustees on October 22, 1946. This change in the operating budget of the University would be made in the appropriation from tax funds, reducing it from $48,083,018 to $43,083,018. The appropriation of $17,000,000 of the estimated income of the University for the biennium would not be changed. The reduction indicated can be made without serious damage because not all of the staff additions anticipated when the budget was presented to the Board in October, 1946, can be secured. Allocation of the total reduction will be determined after further study of the entire operating budget. Approximately $4,000,000 will be taken from the salaries and wages section of the budget and the remaining $1,000,000 from expense and equipment items. I recommend that the action of the President of the Board and the President of the University, in assenting to this readjustment, be confirmed by the Board of Trustees.

On motion of Mr. Fornof, this action was approved and confirmed.

RELEASES FROM STATE BUILDING APPROPRIATIONS (2) At the Board meeting on March 27 (Minutes, page 325) a report was made on the status of releases of building appropriations for 1945-1947. Subsequently the President of the University communicated with the Governor and conferred with the Director of Finance. The Director indicated that the State will follow the policy of releasing funds for construction work only if a sufficient appropriation is available to make possible the completion of a usable unit. H e also requested that the University recommend a redistribution of its appropriations for 1945-1947 to provide sufficient funds for the total cost of each high priority project which should be completed within the 1947-1949 biennium. In accordance with that request, the following schedule was presented, showing the minimum funds required for (1) completion during 1947-1949 of all projects in the A A A priority list approved by the Board of Trustees on January 25, 1047; (2) expenditures and commitments on other projects; (3) essential funds for those projects in Chicago which can be completed during 1947-1949 within available funds, including preparation of plans for the complete hospital addition; (4) use of existing appropriations for land (most of which already have been expended and all of which are encumbered) ; and (5) an amount for contingencies. The schedule shows that after reallocation of the entire 1945-1947 appropriation (except for the $140,000 for purchase of student housing which is being allowed to lapse in view of a special appropriation of $250,000 for staff housing already passed and approved), there would be a deficiency of $2,000,000. The Director of Finance agreed to recommend this readjustment of funds, including an addition of $2,000,000, in the State budget for 1947-1949. It is understood that H . B. 17s, a separate bill for an appropriation of $2,200,000 for student residence