REGENTS TO APPROVE $71 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents is expected to approve a $71 million budget for fiscal 1996 when it meets today.

The budget includes nearly $57 million in the general operations budget and $14 million for auxiliary services such as housing, vending services and the Show Me Center.

Ken Dobbins, executive vice president of the university, said state appropriations of $35.8 million account for 63 percent of the university's general operations budget.

Salaries for the school's nearly 1,000 employees will total almost $35 million for the 1995-96 year, which begins July 1. About $32 million of that cost is in the general operations budget, Dobbins said.

The budget includes merit-based salary increases ranging from 1.5 to 3.2 percent for the different employee groups.

"It was modest," Dobbins said of the salary package.

The general operations budget includes $1.7 million in state funding for maintenance and repair projects.

The budget also includes money for computer upgrades, including purchase of a new main-frame computer, and several student retention and recruitment projects.

At today's meeting, the regents also will be asked to approve spending $5 million in state funding over the next two years for improvements to the campus power plant and electrical distribution system.

The state also is providing $12.3 million for construction of the business building.

The regents will be asked to approve a capital budget request to the state of $8.9 million for fiscal 1997. The budget request includes $3.6 million for renovation and remodeling of the social science building. Erected in 1902, the social science building is the oldest building on campus.

The university closed the building two years ago because it didn't have the money to renovate the structure.

"You have to build a building within a building. Structurally, the building is not sound," Dobbins said.

Also on the capital wish-list are remodeling of old Dempster Hall and exterior renovation of Academic Hall, including replacement of windows.

Board of Regents

Agenda

Wednesday, June 21

2 p.m., University Center

Action items

Approve fiscal 1996 operating budget.

Approve capital projects.

Approve incidental fees for pre-college instructional programs.

Adopt an athletics mission statement.

Re-establish the master of business administration degree program.

Discussion items

Discuss the 1995-96 Regents calendar.