Ewu Board Postpones Budget Approval

Sat., June 27, 1998

From Staff

Eastern Washington University’s board of trustees Friday delayed approval of an estimated $100 million budget because of uncertainties about student enrollment and faculty salaries.

The board voted to grant a one-month spending authority to buy time for budget writers to finish a fiscal 1999 operating and capital budget, which begins July 1.

Last year, Eastern budgeted $94.7 million for operations and $30.4 million in capital spending.

Board chairman James Kirschbaum said the extra month gives administrators time to negotiate pay raises with the United Faculty of Eastern. The labor union is demanding a 2 percent across-the-board pay hike authorized by the Legislature. However, lawmakers failed to fund the raise, meaning Eastern must divert money from other sources.

Enrollment figures also are fuzzy, Kirschbaum said, and officials need time to get a clearer idea of expected tuition income for the fall.

The board, which for the first time includes a student representative, meets again July 24. Aaron Gutierrez, a senior philosophy student, was appointed to the board by Gov. Gary Locke earlier in the month.

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