Project Budget Information

Professional Time (formerly fees)

  • All WMU professional staff will bill actual hours worked on the projects. There will be no more percentage assessed. Instead, actual time will be estimated for the work on the project. Project managers, directors, design staff and engineers will all charge actual hours worked on the project.
  • State funded project and projects funded by tax-exempt bond proceeds are continued to be charged for the actual labor recorded.
  • Projects funded by utility funds—projects funded 100 percent from utility funds.

Contingency

  • Contingency is defined as the unallocated part of the budget to cover the cost to correct unforeseen project conditions or to fund voluntary changes initiated by the owner.  The contingency percentage is based on the size and character of the project and is typically between 5 and 15 percent of the budget.
  • On capital projects, there are three different types of contingencies:
    • Design:
      • Non-allocated part of the budget necessary to correct unforeseen conditions or issues in regards to design that would otherwise not allow completion of the approved project.
    • Construction:
      • Non-allocated part of the budget necessary to correct unforeseen conditions or issues in regards to construction that would otherwise not allow completion of the approved project.
    • University:
      • Non-allocated part of the budget to be used at the owner’s discretion to make owner initiated changes to the project scope
  • Non-capital project contingency is not sub-divided.

Project Managers: The University provides project management and oversight throughout the project. The University's project architects, project engineers and interior designers serve as project managers and technical support staff.

Professional Contractors: A professional service contractor—architect, designer or engineer—may be hired to complete the scope of work for the project.

Billing Detail