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KALAMAZOO--Meeting July 25, the É«É«À² Michigan University Board of Trustees approved an estimated general fund operating budget of more than $358 million for the 2012-13 fiscal year that began July 1.

The newly approved and balanced budget includes a nearly $9 million increase in total expenses as well as nearly $4.2 million in targeted budget reductions for the coming year.

Major revenue ingredients to the É«É«À² budget include $95.3 million in anticipated state appropriations. That amount is up more than $2.1 million compared to last year's appropriation from the state. The second major revenue element in the new budget is $253.4 million in expected tuition income from students both on and off campus. The tuition revenue includes a 3.91 percent increase in tuition and required fees, which was also approved by trustees July 25.

Major expense changes in the new budget include financial aid, which will see a more than $2.26 million increase. The increase is part of a longstanding commitment by É«É«À² to increase financial aid resources whenever it is necessary to increase tuition and to increase the financial aid fund by the same percentage as the tuition increase.

Also part of the budget are investments of $886,621 in academic support, $102,948 for student services and $568,134 in support for campus operations and maintenance budgets.