FAQs
The Budget Office offers answers to frequently asked budget related questions. If you don't find the answer to your question here, please feel free to contact us.
- What is the total university budget?
- What percent of the total university budget comes from the state?
- Why won't Banner Finance let me Transfer a fringe benefits budget?
- Can an operating budget be transferred to the salary line?
- How are fringes handled if such a budget transfer from operating to salary is authorized?
- What are the current fringe benefit rates?
- How is a new fund established?
- How is a new department established?
- What is the current overhead distribution formula?
- What is the difference between Graduate Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants, and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GA, GRA, GTA) in terms of position allocations and tuition payments?
What is the total university budget?
The University's budget is comprised of two state agencies and five major programs.
Virginia Tech Budget for 2007-2008 By Program |
| E&G - University Division | $ 456,452,277 |
| E&G - COOP/ AGRI Experiment Station | $ 83,338,934 |
| E&G Subtotal | $ 539,791,211 |
| Student Financial Assistance | $ 16,742,638 |
| Auxiliary Enterprises | $ 192,465,635 |
| Financial Assistance for E&G Services (Sponsored Programs) | $ 212,651,825 |
| Unique Military Activities | $ 1,569,824 |
| Other | $ 4,242,387 |
| University Total | $ 967,463,520 |
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What percent of the total university budget comes from the state?
In 2007-2008 29% of the University's total budget, 47% for the total Educational and General program budget, and 40% for the University Division Educational and General Program budget came from the Commonwealth of Virginia's General Fund. (Source: 2007-2008 Authorized Budget Document, Consolidated Budget Summary)
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Why won't Banner Finance let me Transfer a fringe benefits budget?
The transfer of fringe benefits budget (account code 1110) is limited to central university staff. For E&G departments (non self-supporting), the fringe benefit budget is set equal to the fringe benefit actual cost after the semimonthly payroll posts. Since the fringe budget will always equal the actual cost, there should be no reason to transfer fringe benefit budget. If you think you have a need to transfer a budget for fringe benefits, please contact the Budget Office staff for assistance
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Can an operating budget be transferred to the salary line?
Any increase in salary costs results in a corresponding increase in the cost of fringe benefits. In the University's Educational and General Program, the cost of fringe benefits is managed centrally (for non self-supporting departments). Therefore, when departmental salary costs increase, a proportionate obligation is made against the central fringe benefit budget. To maintain the structural balance of the budget, authorized increases in salary budgets must be matched with a corresponding increase in the budget for fringe benefits. Since increased salary budgets also have implications on the funding of future raises, operating budget to salary budget transfers should not be made without approval. Therefore, please contact the Budget Office prior to making such transfers. Departments should confirm the need for such a transfer with their college or VP area fiscal officer before contacting the Budget Office.
How are fringes handled if such a budget transfer from operating to salary is authorized? Act
If an operating budget to the salary budget transfer is authorized, a corresponding transfer is needed to address the cost of fringe benefits. The rates will vary from one fiscal year to the next based on current approved fringe benefit rates. The specific circumstances of the situation may also impact which factors apply. The Budget Office will provide assistance by calculating the appropriate fringe benefit amount and completing the budget transfer to the central fringe benefit pool.
What are the current fringe benefit rates?
The cost of fringe benefits is comprised of two components: a fixed portion and a variable amount. The variable portion is a percentage of salary cost to cover retirement contributions, Medicare, Social Security, long-term disability, retiree medical insurance, and group life insurance. The fixed amount is for health insurance and the deferred compensation cash match. The fixed costs are flat amounts charged for each FTE. The fixed costs are based on the average cost of health insurance and the maximum employer match for the deferred compensation program. For 2007-2008, the fixed amount per FTE is $7,550 for health and $480 for the deferred compensation cash match. The variable portion is 23% of salary cost.
How is a new fund established?
Fund attributes ensure that financial activity is recorded in the proper organization, fund source, and program. New funds are established by several different areas on campus depending upon the nature of the activity. The following table outlines the area responsible for establishing various fund types.
Expenditure Funds
| Fund Type | Establishing Area |
| 208 E&G | Office of Budget & Financial Planning |
| 229 AES | Agricultural Experiment Station |
| 229 Coop | Cooperative Extention |
| Auxiliary | Office of Budget & Financial Planning |
| Capital | Office of Budget & Financial Planning |
| Continuing Education Program | Continuing Education |
| Cost Sharing | Office of Sponsored Programs |
| Grant & Contract | Office of Sponsored Programs |
| Local* | Controller's Office |
| Private | Virginia Tech Foundation |
| Surplus Property | Office of Budget & Financial Planning |
*local funds include: agency activities, local auxiliaries, and the graduate tuition remission program
Revenue Funds
| All Revenue Funds | Controllers Office |
The department or unit requesting that the fund be established should review its current fund structure and determine the need for a new fund. Once the unit determines there is a need for an expenditure fund, the fiscal contact or department head should submit a request to the appropriate department (see table above). The request should provide a Fund Title, the six digit organization number responsible for the fund, the source of money that the fund will hold, and a brief description of the activity for which the funds will be used (e.g., academic instruction, research, etc.). The person requesting the fund should have fiscal responsibility for the organization and fund type requested. The Office of Budget and Financial Planning can be reached at 1-6419
How is a new department established?
The Controller's Office establishes new departments. Please contact Karen Barnard in the Controller's Office at 1-8560
What is the current overhead distribution formula?
As of April 1, 2006 the overhead distribution formula is:
| State | 30.00% |
| Central Capital Account 1 | 11.14% |
| Central Capital Account 2 | 10.00% |
| Research Division | 8.57% |
| College | 40.29% |
| Total | 100.00% |
Additional information on the process which leads to these rates can be found at http://www.provost.vt.edu/CRC_letter.php.
What is the difference between Graduate Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants, and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GA, GRA, GTA) in terms of position allocations and tuition payments?
The Commonwealth of Virginia appropriates position allocations to the University for GTA's and GRA's for teaching and research activities. Consistent with this, the University allocated these positions (0.25 FTE each) to the colleges. GA positions are not currently limited in number by the Commonwealth. As a result, GA positions are not included in position allocations nor filled position counts.
The Code of Virginia provides institutions of higher education with significant flexibility in the funding of tuition remission for GTA's and GRA's. The Code does not provide the same flexibility for the tuition remission of GA's. Payment of tuition for GA's is limited to scholarship funds (999xxx accounts), overhead funds, or private funds. Tuition waivers (997xxx accounts) may be used only for GTA's and may not be distributed to GA's. To reiterate, Educational and General funds may not be used to fund tuition for GA's