The University will present its $78.9 million budget request for next year at the University Board of Trustees meeting in Springfield today.

Salary increases for University faculty and staff, statewide initiatives to recruit and retain faculty, renovation and maintenance funding and increased academic program offerings are all focuses of the fiscal year 2005 budget recommendations to be presented at the meeting.

The budget will be authorized by the board at today's meeting before being sent to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for further review. The $78.9 million request is an increase of 7.3 percent above this year's budget.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Chet Gardner said key elements in the budget such as funds to increase the number of classes and to reduce class size and additional funding for instructional technology are important in next year's budget. But unavoidable costs such as increases in utility costs, Medicaid and Medicare costs and maintenance for new facilities also must be covered.

The recommendations also include funding to be allocated for deferred maintenance costs, which will go toward building repairs and upgrades in the future. Gardner said money has been requested for the expansion of University services, such as the Urbana-Champaign campus' Partnership Illinois program, which collaborates with the community to address "societal issues" such as education and culture.

Salary improvements are a crucial part of next year's request — faculty and staff will see a 4 percent merit-based salary increase on the average if approved.

"Faculty and staff are the key elements to running a major University that provides quality academic programs," said Tom Hardy, University spokesman. "(Without salary increases) we risk losing this important component of our academic program."

Gardner said the University lost ground in salary competitiveness in comparison to peers last year.

While the request has several steps to go through before the final approval this spring, Hardy said the initial request spells out the needs that the University faces in the coming year.

"We would like to be able to restore many of the programs that had to be reduced because of the tight state budget," Hardy said. "But realistically, it's uncertain as to how much of that could be restored. The University is very realistic about the economic condition of the state."

In addition to presenting and voting on the fiscal year 2005 budget request, the board will also be authorizing the operating budget for fiscal year 2004.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Abby Ottenhoff, spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said the student trustee who will have voting power will be announced today. Every year one student trustee from each campus is elected to the board, and one trustee of the three is given an official vote by the governor.

• The board will confirm new appointments of faculty, administrative and professional staff members and intercollegiate athletic staff.

• Members also will authorize the appointment of Ron Yates as active/interim dean of the College of Communications.

• The board will award a contract for the renovation and expansion of IMPE and the Campus Recreation Center East.