MSU plans to amend approved budget

Though the Missouri State University Board of Governors on Friday approved the school's fiscal 2013 budget, the university is planning to amend it in the fall due to 11th-hour state funding news.

On June 22, the board approved a budget with projected operating revenues of $164.8 million against budgeted expenses of $228.2 million. Later that day, Gov. Jay Nixon signed the state's higher-education budget with a 1 percent reduction. According to a news release, the action means MSU will receive roughly $5.2 million more than expected in state appropriations. MSU is now set to receive about $78.5 million from the state in fiscal 2013, about $800,000 less than the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

"As a result, the Executive Budget Committee and I will take a fresh look at our budget this fall," MSU Interim President Clif Smart said in the release, noting MSU employees could receive mid-year salary increases if the school meets fall 2010 enrollment levels, which the upcoming budget is based on achieving.

During the MSU board's Friday meeting, the university also renewed its contract with legislative consultant Jerry Burch, effective Sept. 1.

Burch will be paid $78,849 for the one-year extention, the same amount of the last three fiscal years. Burch has served as MSU's Jefferson City advocate since 1990, according to a separate release.