Missouri State approves 2011 budget, down $7.8M from 2010

Missouri State University's Board of Governors approved the fiscal 2011 budget during its Friday meeting, and total expenses are down nearly $8 million from fiscal 2010.

The budget includes total expenses of $252.5 million, down $7.8 million from the fiscal 2010 budget. Anticipated revenues in the budget are $257.6 million.

Expenses are down due in large part to a 5.2 percent reduction in appropriations from the state. Gov. Jay Nixon reached an agreement in late 2009 with state public college and university leaders that their appropriation levels would be cut less than those of other departments in exchange for agreements that tuition would not be raised for in-state undergraduate students.

Missouri State is budgeted to receive $82.8 million from the state in fiscal 2011.

"Colleges in many other states are suffering large budget cuts, and students have faced steep increases in tuition," MSU President Michael Nietzel said in a news release. "In Missouri, we’re fortunate to see a much lower cut in funding. This has been a challenging budget year, but we’ve made strategic decisions to meet our budget priorities.”

In addition to the state appropriation reduction, the budget assumes increased revenue from an anticipated enrollment increase, fee increases for nonresident and graduate students, and an increase in room and board charges.

Also at Friday's board meeting, the university extended its contract with lobbyist Jerry Burch. Burch, who has worked in Jefferson City on behalf of the school since 1990, will receive $78,849 in 2010-11, the same amount he received this year.

"Jerry Burch is an important part of our governmental relations program,” Nietzel said in a separate release. “His knowledge of both the university and state government make him a tremendous asset.”[[In-content Ad]]