UH Board of Regents approves supplemental budget for fiscal year 2009 at its monthly meeting

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Carolyn Tanaka, (808) 956-8109
Associate Vice President
Posted: Oct 1, 2007

The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) held its monthly meeting at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo last week to take action on several items related to the management and operations of the UH System. Approvals were given for the supplemental budget package for FY 09, legislative proposals for the 2008 session, and the special report from the UH Community College system to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

The supplemental budget for fiscal year 2009 was slightly modified from what was originally presented to the BOR at the informational briefing held in August 2007. The modifications included an increase from $30 million to $30.6 million in the operating budget and an increase of $359 million to $365 million in CIP funded by general obligation bonds.

Of the additional $600 thousand in operating funding being requested, $400 thousand reflects the president‘s desire to increase support for educational leadership in the public schools, and support for innovation initiatives. The remaining $200 thousand request is to fund 10 positions that will enhance access for Native Hawaiians.

The additional $6 million in the CIP request is primarily to assist with the planning and design funding for the $66 million College of Pharmacy building and some contingency funds for planning and design of the student housing at UH Hilo. The BOR‘s Biennium Budget request for operating funds totaled $39 million in fiscal year 2007-2008 (FY 08), and $58 million in fiscal year 2008-2009 (FY 09). The University received $26 million ($13 million less than requested) and $37 million ($21 million less than requested). The Board‘s Biennium Budget request for general-obligation-bond-funded capital improvement projects totaled $268 million in FY08 and $274 million in FY09, a total of $542 million. The University received $183 million in CIP funds in FY08, and $2 million in FY09, for a total of $185 million ($357 million less than requested).

More information about the supplemental budget can be found at www.hawaii.edu/budget/BP.html.

In other action the BOR, approved the 2008 legislative session proposals, which will generally seek to increase the University‘s fiscal flexibility. UH‘s proposals will now be submitted to the Governor for inclusion in the Administration‘s package of bills to the 2008 State Legislature.

A special report prepared by the UH Community College system was also approved by the BOR for submittal to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The report is in response to the Commission‘s recommendation to conduct a systematic evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the new community college organization and governance structure between and among the system and its community colleges. The report and related attachment is available at www.hawaii.edu/vpaa/system_aa/accreditation.html.