§ 16-59-9 - Educational budget and appropriations. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-59-9

   § 16-59-9  Educational budget andappropriations. – (a) The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sums it deems necessaryfor support and maintenance of higher education in the state and the statecontroller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon thegeneral treasurer for the payment of the appropriations or so much of the sumsthat are necessary for the purposes appropriated, upon the receipt by him orher of proper vouchers as the board of governors for higher education may byrule provide. The board shall receive, review, and adjust the budgets of itsseveral subordinate committees and agencies and for the office of highereducation and present the budget as part of the budget for higher educationunder the requirements of § 35-3-4.

   (b) The office of higher education and the institutions ofpublic higher education shall establish working capital accounts.

   (c) Any tuition or fee increase schedules in effect for theinstitutions of public higher education shall be received by the board ofgovernors for allocation for the fiscal year for which state appropriations aremade to the board of governors by the general assembly; provided that nofurther increases may be made by the board of governors for the year for whichappropriations are made. Except that these provisions shall not apply to therevenues of housing, dining, and other auxiliary facilities at the Universityof Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community Colleges includingstudent fees as described in P.L. 1962, ch. 257 pledged to secure indebtednessissued at any time pursuant to P.L. 1962, ch. 257 as amended.

   (d) All housing, dining, and other auxiliary facilities atall public institutions of higher learning shall be self-supporting and nofunds shall be appropriated by the general assembly to pay operating expenses,including principal and interest on debt services, and overhead expenses forthe facilities. Any debt service costs on general obligation bonds presented tothe voters in November 2000 and November 2004 or appropriated funds from theRhode Island capital plan for the housing auxiliaries at the University ofRhode Island and Rhode Island College shall not be subject to thisself-supporting requirement in order to provide funds for the buildingconstruction and rehabilitation program. The institutions of public highereducation will establish policies and procedures which enhance the opportunityfor auxiliary facilities to be self-supporting, including that all facultyprovide timely and accurate copies of booklist for required textbooks to thepublic higher educational institution's bookstore.

   (e) The additional costs to achieve self-supporting statusshall be by the implementation of a fee schedule of all housing, dining, andother auxiliary facilities, including but not limited to, operating expenses,principal, and interest on debt services, and overhead expenses.