Michigan State University
Controller's Office

Administration Bldg
426 Auditorium Rd, Rm 305
East Lansing, MI 48824
517 355-5020

SECTION 12: Budget Reallocations

Last updated: December 2010

I. Policy Background

General Fund and the MSU AgBioResearch/Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) accounts: These accounts are funded with budgeted MSU dollars. These budgets function in a dynamic environment and circumstances occur during the fiscal year which require reallocations. The budget reallocation document is to be used to transfer funds from one General Fund (and MSU AgBioResearch/MSUE) account to another. This applies to sub-funds beginning with ā€œGā€ and sub-funds RR, RS, RE, & RA. See sub-fund list.

All other accounts: Account budgets can be set up in the financial system as an internal organization management/financial planning tool. The budget reallocation document allows an organization to create and/or adjust a budget for a given account.

II. Policy

All budget reallocations must be requested via the Budget Reallocation e-doc.

There can only be one fund group on the document.

If any sub-fund on the document has a restriction, only that sub-fund can be used on the document.

See Section 40 for further information on the e-doc.

III. Procedure

  1. Reallocation Request - General Fund, MSU AgBioResearch, and MSUE accounts:
    1. Reallocations of unit and centrally-budgeted special/contingency funds require a brief statement of the intended use or purpose of the reallocation in the Explanation section of the BA.
    2. Reallocations for changes in program needs or requirements require appropriate justification and supporting rationale. In the Explanation section of the Budget Reallocation e-doc, provide a statement of the intended use or purpose of the reallocation. This statement should highlight the circumstances that have changed or the conditions that have been altered since the time the budget was established which now make the reallocation necessary.
    3. Budget Reallocation document special Workflow Routing:

      General Fund:
      Upon account Fiscal Officer approval(s), will route to the Office of Planning and Budgets.

      MSU AgBioResearch/MSUE Funds:
      Upon account Fiscal Officer approval(s), will route to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Office. Following approval, will route to the Office of Planning and Budgets.

  2. Budget Reallocation ā€“ All other accounts: This is considered a organization management tool and an internal transaction. As such, the document will only route to account Fiscal Officer(s) and will not route centrally.