THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS
The Budget Conference Committee completed its work on the budget on Wednesday, June 8. The summary below outlines impacts to the University:
Clemson E&G
Recurring Requests
– Base Appropriations Increase (In State Tuition Mitigation) $22M
– College of Veterinary Medicine $12.5M
– Student Experiential Learning $3.5M
– STEM Workforce Development $7M
Nonrecurring Requests
– Planned Maintenance and Renewal Projects $15.6M
– College of Veterinary Medicine $75M
Background: Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine
– Clemson has requested funding from the SC General Assembly to establish the College of Veterinary Medicine at Clemson University.
– The total cost of to establish the College is $285 Million in nonrecurring and 20.5 million in recurring funding.
– Last year the General Assembly funded $10 million in nonrecurring funds to conduct a feasibility study, begin the site selection process, and hire a dean. The feasibility study was completed and approved by the Clemson Board of Trustees in February 2023. The search process for a dean of the college is underway.
Clemson PSA
Recurring Requests
– Employee Retention & Recruitment $2.3M
– Statewide Program Support $1M
Nonrecurring Requests
– Poultry Science Research Facility $4.5M
– Critical PSA Research Infrastructure and Dam Improvements $2.1M
– PSA Animal Farms Infrastructure $15.4M
Money Provisos Impacting Clemson
– Battelle Alliance at Savannah River National Lab — Of the funds appropriated for the Battelle Alliance forty percent ($16M) are allocated to Clemson University. The funds must be expended collaboratively to conduct research partnerships and develop workforce training programs designed to fill engineering, science, research, and management positions.
– DHHS: Rural Health – Directs that at least $1M is recommended for rural health initiatives at Clemson University
– DAODAS: Addiction Research – Directs $3M for a SC Center for Excellence in Addiction for a collaboration between Clemson, MUSC, and USC
– DHHS: Alzheimer’s Research – Directs $10M to be used by the collaboration between Clemson, MUSC, and USC to achieve the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center designation
– Athletic Admissions Revenue–For the current fiscal year, revenue derived from admissions to an athletic event of an accredited college or university shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue. Thereafter, the Department of Revenue shall allocate the same amount to the college or university so long as the use of the revenue is limited exclusively to supporting the college or university’s student-athletes through the provision of student aid, scholarship, and/or related financial support.
The Conference Report includes several items from the Executive Budget of impact to the University
– $4.1 million in recurring lottery dollars for students with intellectual disabilities attending college transition programs
– $10 million in recurring lottery dollars for the continuation of the initiative to address the shortage of instructors in nursing schools
The budget includes a $2500 compensation increase for state employees earning less than $50,000 and a 5% compensation increase for state employees earning more than $50,000. The language (in proviso) that allows institutions the flexibility to reward based on performance remains in the bill.
The Conference Report includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers. The employee portion of both will be paid by the state. The employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university.
The House and the Senate are scheduled to return to Columbia on Wednesday for adoption of the budget conference report. The budget will then go to Governor McMaster who has five days (not including Sunday) to sign the bill or issue vetoes.