The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors on a voice vote approved a midyear amendment to the FY2025 operating budget, adopted the institutes 2025 facilities master plan and amended a prior memorandum to permit private donations and to authorize the institute to advance funds for the Arlington National Cemetery project to be reimbursed by public or private funds.

The AF&P (administration, finance and planning) committee presented the recommended adjustment to the current-year operating budget as a midcycle correction based on actuals and an outlook for the year. The committee said the largest single line in the amendment is $3,100,000 of education and general cash to accelerate work on the Moody Hall project; those funds are state-approved and expected to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth in a later cycle. "The largest item on the adjustment is $3,100,000 of education and general cash into the Moody Hall project," the AF&P committee chair said when presenting the motion.

Why it matters: committee members said this cycle's midyear request was larger than usual because several campus projects that had been deferred for budgetary reasons need to be advanced now to avoid further cost escalation or operational risk. The facilities master plan adoption provides a prioritized list of capital needs to guide future budgets and stewardship of existing buildings.

Details of the votes and motions: the board approved the AF&P committees motion to amend the FY2025 operating budget as presented and also voted to adopt the VMI post facilities master plan for 2025. Both motions were moved, seconded and carried on voice votes recorded as "Aye." Later, after a closed-session discussion, the board returned to open session and approved an amendment to the September 10, 2023 memorandum governing the Arlington National Cemetery project to include private donations as a permitted source of funding. The board also approved substitute language authorizing the institute to advance funds for that project "to be reimbursed by private or public funds." Both closed-session motions were reported and approved in open session.

Context and committee rationale: AF&P members described the budget amendment as a timing and prudence measure rather than a correction of a revenue shortfall; revenues and expenses for FY2025 are, in the committee's view, on track. The $3.1 million Moody Hall draw was described as a timing issue so that the project can proceed while the state reimbursement process completes.

What the board approved (votes at a glance):
- Midyear amendment to the FY2025 operating budget, including $3,100,000 of education and general cash for Moody Hall (moved and seconded; outcome: approved).
- VMI post facilities master plan for 2025 (moved and seconded; outcome: approved).
- Amendment to the 9/10/2023 Arlington National Cemetery memorandum to permit private donations and to authorize the institute to advance funds for the project to be reimbursed by private or public funds (substitute motion adopted; outcome: approved).

Next steps: the Moody Hall project will proceed with institute cash on hand and the administration expects state reimbursement in a future cycle. The facilities master plan will inform capital prioritization and the board discussed whether to create or reconfigure committees to provide additional oversight of risk-related items (IT, safety, security) that AF&P currently also covers.