Wazzu Running in the Red

Washington State University operated at a $17-million deficit last year. President Kirk Schulz told departments which overspent, to develop plans to repay the money and achieve a balanced budget. Schulz says several academic units overspent their budgets by $1 million to $3 million, and much of the spending was for research, new faculty hires, and the creation of academic infrastructure.

Schulz says none of the money was spent frivolously or recklessly.  The $17 million deficit is in addition to an athletics deficit of about $13 million last year.  Schulz says Washington State University is looking at ways to increase its revenues to reach its goal of a top 25 public research university.