Southeast regents to discuss budget issues today

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents will consider a $106.7 million operating budget and a $36.8 million auxiliary budget at today's meeting at the John and Betty Glenn Convocation Center at the River Campus.

Auxiliary budgets are self-supporting operations that do not receive state funding. They also have to generate revenue to cover their expenses.

The meeting is set to start at 8:30 a.m. with a closed session. Regents also are scheduled to tour the new River Campus academic and residence center, due to open in time for fall classes, at 1:15 p.m. The open session continues at 2:15 p.m.

Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday announced he would veto or freeze more than $1.1 billion in Missouri's 2015 fiscal year budget. Some money was restricted until funds are available, other projects were vetoed and some had increases vetoed.

The move affects a variety of services and agencies statewide, including the university. Southeast was anticipating a 4 percent increase in state funding -- equating to about $1.7 million for fiscal year 2015.

University vice president for finance and administration Kathy Mangels has said the total general operating budget for fiscal year 2014 was about $104 million. Mangels has said the 2015 budget was expected to be $106 million to $107 million, an addition of about $2.6 million.

"We'll be looking at that on Thursday," Southeast president Kenneth Dobbins said, along with actions the university and board will need to take.

"I don't think anyone right now knows what's going to happen with the economy of Missouri. I think that's going to play a key role in whether or not we get that money later. ... We're obviously conscious about not increasing fees, but we may have to do that this year."

In open session, the regents also will consider a capital budget request for fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017 to be submitted to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, motions to proceed with Show Me Center capital projects and the Creative Labs Incubator project, and several academic program changes.

Southeast has hired Convergence Design in Kansas City, Missouri, to complete a feasibility study on future renovations and improvements to the Show Me Center, director of Facilities Management Angela Meyer said in an email. Convergence has been on site to document existing conditions and meet with various constituents, including the Show Me Center Board of Managers.

Upgrades to the 7,000-seat facility would run $7.44 million, according to preliminary estimates. Mangels and Show Me Center director Wil Gorman have said the building itself is structurally sound, but just needs updating.

The Creative Labs Incubator project broke ground in September and involves making attached buildings at 612 and 616 Broadway into one. The building would house a variety of businesses and creative disciplines, allowing students to mix with people who have real-world experience while developing their own.

In closed session, regents will consider personnel actions, including a record number of faculty promotions, tenure, post professorial merit, and nontenure track merit, along with consideration of approving bargaining unit agreements.

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