Forecasts
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Debt Capacity Forecast
F&A, in collaboration with Capital Accounting and the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs and CFO, prepares a debt capacity forecast that is updated twice a year. The forecast incorporates both debt already expended and debt funding needs of projects in the Capital Plan, including projects in design and construction, forecasted projects, and infrastructure projects. Additionally, the forecast estimates medium-term debt that may be needed to bridge timing differences between capital expenditures and final funding sources (e.g., gift receipts and available reserves). The forecast is used to plan for future Bond offerings.
Debt Service Forecast
F&A, in collaboration with Capital Accounting, develops a forecast of debt service for the current and four future fiscal years. The forecast includes the funding area responsible for servicing the debt (e.g., General Funds, Formula Schools, Auxiliary, etc.) and highlights the changes in debt service from year to year. The debt service forecast is submitted to the University Budget Office for use in General Funds budget planning.
New Structures Forecast
As part of the annual university budget process, F&A submits a long-range “New Structures Forecast” to the Provost and Budget Group, requesting operations, maintenance and utilities (O&M) funding for new facilities occupied by Non-Formula and Administrative units. Also included in this forecast are the O&M impacts of renovations, deductions for demolitions and smaller budget requests for infrastructure.
O&M on buildings typically include the following:
- Contracted Services (Custodial, Elevators, Pest Control, Trash/Recycling, Relamping)
- Utilities (Electricity, Steam, Chilled Water, Domestic Water, Sewer, Lake Water)
- Zones Maintenance (Planned, Reactive and Preventive)
- Grounds and Grounds Infrastructure
- Infrastructure Maintenance
- Outdoor Lighting and Structures
Utilities Forecast
As part of the annual university budget process, F&A submits a long-range “Utilities Forecast” to the Provost and Budget Group. This forecast includes funding requests for both the Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP) and base general funding.
The forecast includes energy assumptions by unit measure for steam, domestic water, lake water, sewer, electricity and chilled water and long-range projections of rate changes. Also included is a discussion of both commodity prices and university consumption, both of which impact university costs and funding.