University of Idaho reports improved finances but flags retiree obligations; reorganizes equity offices and updates JFAC on Phoenix, WWAMI and INL partnerships

BOISE — The University of Idaho told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27 that years of aggressive budget reductions have improved the institution’s financial position but that legacy retiree benefit obligations (OPEB) and accounting treatment continue to depress unrestricted reserve ratios.

Kevin Campbell, a Legislative Services Office analyst, presented the University of Idaho’s FY2025 numbers: an enrollment of about 12,286, roughly 1,352 full‑time equivalent employees cited in the presentation, and a base general‑fund appropriation of approximately $196.3 million. Campbell said about 68.5% of the university’s budget is personnel and roughly 29.3% operating expenses.

President C. Scott Green told the committee the university undertook a base reduction of about $26 million in FY2021 to align expenses with revenues and credited those steps with stabilizing the university.

"We took aggressive action and right‑sized the University," Green told the committee. "We moved toward a positive unrestricted net position and we have sufficient cash reserves to support short‑ and long‑term obligations, but our reserve ratios remain affected by a prior retiree medical benefit program that required an accounting change." (First reference: President C. Scott Green, Jan. 27 testimony.)

Accounting and reserve ratios: Green and his finance team explained that the university’s unrestricted net‑position was negative because of an accounting change tied to a prior retiree medical benefit (OPEB) obligation. The university reported a positive total net position when restricted assets are included; CFO…