SIU trustees approve FY26 operating budget, salary plan, bond and multi‑year contract extensions

Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees committee members approved the system's proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget and a slate of related financial and personnel measures at meetings held before the full board convened Oct. 25.

The finance committee voted to recommend the operating budget to the full board. President Dan Mahoney and university finance staff told trustees the proposal reflects recent discussions on enrollment and state support; trustees approved the item on a committee roll call. "We recommend approval," Mahoney said during the finance committee discussion.

Why it matters: the operating budget guides campus spending next year and was considered together with personnel and capital requests that affect pay, insurance and campus projects. Committee approvals advance the items to the board omnibus motion that carried the measures into effect for the system.

Most important committee actions

- The finance committee approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget on a roll call that recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The committee approved the appointment of Justin Oates as SIU system vice president for financial and administrative affairs and board treasurer; the committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- Trustees approved a $5,000,000 public official bond for the board treasurer, per the Southern Illinois University Management Act; committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The salary increase plan for FY26 was approved by the finance committee. The plan presented and approved in committee included a 1% increase for certain university employees and a 2.5% increase for civil service employees, as explained by vice president Justin Oates. Committee roll call recorded Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes.

- The Resource Allocation and Management Program (RAMP) operations and capital requests for FY27 were approved jointly by the finance committee and the architectural and design committee. Finance committee roll call: Curtis: yes; Barnett: yes; Connelly: yes; Williams: yes. Architecture &…