UAFS appropriations bill filed, sets spending limits - Talk Business & Politics

UAFS appropriations bill filed, sets spending limits

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net) 100 views 

An appropriations bill recently filed for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith places a limit of $118.28 million for spending in the next fiscal year, but it’s rare that the university ever has expenses near the allowed level.

HB1264 was filed Jan. 27 by the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of the Arkansas Legislature in the 95th General Assembly. It was one of numerous appropriation bills filed by the JBC to set spending levels for the state’s higher education institutions. The UAFS bill, like many of the similar bills, has not been moved out of committee for a vote in the House.

The bill, which sets a maximum of 1,025 employees at UAFS, includes $25 million for regular salaries, $31.5 million in for capital improvements, and $8 million for debt service. The bill also sets funding for 240 full-time faculty and 300 part-time faculty.

The 11-page bill also includes appropriation levels for the Western Arkansas Technical Center (WATC), which provides workforce training to students from 22 public schools in the region.

“The annual Appropriation Act provides UAFS and other institutions and agencies with the permission to spend money. We have three primary sources of funding – money sent us from the state via the annual Resource Stabilization Act, those we generate through tuition, fees and donor gifts, and what we receive from federal and state grants,” noted Carey Tucker, UAFS vice chancellor for finance and administration. “We are limited in our spending to the lesser of the appropriated amount or available funding in a given fiscal year we receive from all sources.  It is a rare occurrence that we reach the appropriated limits. However, if we do, there is a procedure for us to go back to the legislature during a fiscal year to request additional appropriation.”

For example, in fiscal year 2024 (2023-2024 academic year) the UAFS revenue was $73.559 million, which is just 62% of the $118.28 million that would be appropriated in HB1264.

Following are fiscal year 2024 revenue sources, and percentage of UAFS total revenue, according to Tucker. The amounts are from the university’s audited financial statements.
• State funds: $26.635 million (36%)
• Tuition, fees, gifts: $25.144 million (34%)
• Federal and state grants: $21.778 million (30%)

UAFS has around 850 employees and around 5,500 students. The university includes a College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences, and College of Business and Industry.

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