Budget Update

Current as of February 23, 2012

Dear Colleagues,

The House Ways and Means Committee today approved a draft budget that will now go to the full House for members’ consideration beginning the week of March 13.

The plan includes no increase in operating funding for the fiscal year that begins July 1, but does propose some additional one-time funds for use on campus maintenance projects. In addition, thanks goes to Rep. Gary Simrill for working with his Ways and Means colleagues to include $500,000 in proposed funding for Winthrop technology needs.

The only universities proposed to receive increases in operating funds for the coming year (in varied amounts,) are two of the three research-level institutions, the University of South Carolina-Columbia and Clemson University. The technical colleges would also receive increased operating support under the Ways and Means plan.

In addition, the plan includes a proposed average 2% salary increase for state employees. The amount allocated by the General Assembly in this process does not include funds sufficient to cover all full-time Winthrop employees, so Winthrop will need to identify $750,000 in additional funds ($375,000 for each percentage point of increase) for this purpose.

All of these allocations are subject to change, of course, as the bill is reviewed by the full House and open to floor amendments beginning March 13. Once the House has adopted its version by late March, attention will move to the Senate, which will craft its own version of a spending plan. Consultations with Sen. Wes Hayes regarding improving Winthrop’s funding at that stage already have begun.

We will keep you posted on key developments as this process moves forward in Columbia. As in past years, we do not expect to have final numbers for Winthrop’s own budget preparation until June.

Meanwhile, many thanks for all you are doing for Winthrop.

Sincerely,

Tony DiGiorgio
President