MUNCIE — Ball State University's board of trustees on Friday approved a $356 million general fund budget for 2016-17 that includes spending increases for student scholarships, employee salaries and intercollegiate athletics.
The budget calls for a 2-percent increase in the salary pool to be mostly distributed on merit, a 1 percent increase for intercollegiate athletics, which is funded by student fees, and an increase in financial aid for students, which makes up 12 percent of the total general fund budget, Treasurer Bernie Hannon told trustees.
The biggest expense is for personnel — 71 percent of the general fund budget.
The student wage pool was not increased.
Twenty years ago, state appropriations funded nearly 60 percent of the general fund and student tuition/fees funded less than 40 percent. That has flip-flopped, Hannon said. Student tuition and fees fund 56 percent of the 2016-16 budget compared to 37 percent from state appropriations.
The new budget allocation of student services fees was approved at $21.8 million, of which $13,300,000 is earmarked to subsidize the nearly 20 Ball State Cardinal intercollegiate teams, such as football and men and women's basketball, golf, tennis, volleyball and swimming/diving.
Other budget highlights presented by Hannon: