BU waiting to hear from province

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This article was published 06/06/2016 (3391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are few surprises in the Brandon University’s budget for the 2016-17 academic year, but the school’s administration is still waiting to hear from the provincial government about support for some of their capital plans.

BU’s Board of Governors approved next year’s budget in late May, which includes the government-mandated 1.2 per cent increase to tuition and assumes a four per cent spike in enrolment.

This year’s planning process was aided by the government’s announcement of a 2.5 per cent operating grant increase in January, made several months earlier than previous years.

“That was great, we went ahead and finalized our operating budget, balancing things as best we could with that in mind. But then, of course, it went up in the air again with the change in government,” said Steve Robinson, BU’s provost and vice-president, academic.

The new government, elected this spring, committed to the same increase to grants, allowing those plans carry on.

“That allows us to keep on a steady course with the planning we had done.”

About 87 per cent of the $49.3-million operating budget is salaries and benefits.

Thanks to a healthy enrolment forecast, a tuition revenue increase of about $414,000 is expected.Robinson said that while registrations are up by about eight per cent over this time last year, they aren’t something he’s willing to bank on yet.

“It’s hard to extrapolate from those initial numbers because it’s a dynamic situation.From year to year, the application numbers go up or down but that doesn’t always translate to the same number in enrolments. The number that really matters is how many people get their bums in seats.”

The budget also proposes that about $1.5 million of the budgeted cost increase be addressed by the use of surplus funds. The university has scaled back on its use of surplus funds to balance the budget in recent years. Last year, about $700,000 in surplus funds were used.

“The use of unused funds from previous years is thought to be less injurious at this point to a budget unit and its services than would be removing further funds from the budget of the 2016-17 year,” wrote BU’s vice-president, finance Scott Lamont in a memo.

BU’s plans got a thumbs-up from the students’ union.

“The budget looks fine to us,” said Brandon University Students’ Union president Nick Brown, who sits on the board of governors.

He noted he was happy not to see a dramatic escalation in most fees, and that the prices for meal plans will remain static.

“We were expecting to have to push for things like the meal plan not to be increased,” he said.

Robinson said while it’s nice to have the 2.5 per cent increase, nothing is guaranteed beyond this year, and outstanding promises made by the previous government remain in flux.

“We have no doubt about the government’s commitment to education. However, that doesn’t necessarily translate into the same amount of dollars that might have come from the previous government, and it’s a continuously evolving economic situation for the province as well,” he said.

One question mark is a pledge of $12 million, made in January, to a $13.5-million affordable housing complex.

The project has been in the works since 2011 and hoping to break ground as soon as this summer.

“We would say that it’s government making the commitment and consequently, we would start on the project on the basis that we have government commitment to get the project going.” BU president Gervan Fearon said at the time of the funding announcement.

But on Friday, Robinson saidshovels won’t hit the dirt until the new government has reaffirmed their support.

“We won’t be able to do that until we hear more from them,” he said.

» tbateman@brandonsun.com

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