At the annual budget presentation on Friday, August 25, Ed Del Biaggio, vice president for administration, announced that the California State University budget has increased eight percent since last year.

Sacramento State is receiving an additional $8.7 million, bringing the budget total to $172.4 million. $5.4 million of the additional funds are a result of enrollment growth, Del Biaggio said.

The Council on University Planning, which is chaired by Provost Bernice Bass de Martinez and has representation from various parts of Sac State, reviewed the budget last spring. CUP made its own recommendations and then sent the budget to President Gerth, who approved it.

The budget also includes an additional $3.3 million approved by CUP.

“This additional money is a permanent allocation to each area of the university,” Del Biaggio said.

Of this additional $3.3 million, $1.6 million is carried over from last year?s unused funds. This money will be used for one-time special projects, such as equipment and special programs.

“There is one exception to these one-time allocations, though,”

Del Biaggio said. “The institution will put an additional $330,000 into instruction on a permanent basis.”

The budget money will go toward a variety of things, including compensation, teacher preparation and instruction.

As a change to the traditional budget presentation, Provost Bass de Martinez also presented the audience with a briefing on the current enrollment status.

In a presentation that included sound effects such as cash register drawers opening, Bass de Martinez announced enrollment is increasing in nearly all areas of campus, including freshmen, transfer students and international students.

“First-time freshman enrollment is up 18.3 percent, junior transfer enrollment is up 4.1 percent, new graduate enrollment is up 5.8 percent and international student enrollment is up 19.2 percent. International students are not one of our targeted audiences for recruitment right now. Just imagine what would happen if we did start targeting them.” Bass de Martinez said.

The target full time enrollment for the 1999/2000 school year was 18,532 students. Sac State surpassed this goal by over 300 students, and Bass de Martinez said this would have a positive effect on the budget.

In addition, Bass de Martinez noted that the number of students who need remedial help in math and English has dropped slightly, although the amount of students at Sac State continues to rise.

“We are on a continued upward climb,” she said. “The numbers speak well for us.”