QUESTION #23: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE BUDGET STEERING COMMITTEE? DID THIS YEAR'S BUDGET STEERING PROCESS REALLY SEEM DIFFERENT TO THOSE ON THE COMMITTEE? DID ONE PERSON END UP CREATING THE BUDGET OR WAS IT REALLY COLLABORATIVE?
Consistent with the Committee's charge, the primary goal of the Budget Steering Committee is to recommend to the President funding priorities to assist in the development of the proposed annual budget for submission to the Board of Trustees. The Committee also ensures broader participation in, and communication of, the budget process.
The process is an evolving one. During this first year, we sought a more collaborative and open process. We hoped to learn more about the complexities of the budget and identify our objectives. In so doing, we also tried to evaluate specific budget requests in light of our mission, core values,and highest priorities. We have tried to keep accurate minutes of our meetings.
All Committee members think our revised budget process moved us in the right direction. We plan on assessing our process during the summer and improving on it in the future. We will begin the process of developing the FY 2004 budget (i.e., the budget for the year after next year) in late August.
