Fringe Benefits: The Ever-Moving Target
SEPTEMBER 2007 - Recently, several faculty members have asked how to budget for fringe benefits for future years when planning their proposal budgets. Typically, Grant Support Services has recommended using the same rate throughout your project. However, this is becoming a problem since no matter what fringe rate is budgeted, the grant will be charged at the rate in place at the time of the expense.
After discussing this issue with Sponsored Programs, Sponsored Programs Accounting & Administration and the Comptroller’s office, we have been authorized to budget estimated increases to fringe benefits in future years.
For example, in a three year budget, your fringe benefits could increase in years 2 and 3 up to 3% each year. Based on this estimated 3% increase, you would use the following rates:
| Category | FY2008 |
FY2009 |
FY2010 |
| 9-Month Faculty |
24.1% | 27.1% | 30.1% |
| 12-Month Faculty/Staff |
30.2% | 33.2% | 36.2% |
| Enrolled Students (Grad & Undergrad) | 5.1% | 8.1% | 11.1% |
| Part Time/Temporary |
15.9% | 18.9% | 21.9% |
Please note that these increases are not mandatory, but may prevent you from having a budget crisis in future years when the fringe benefits rate increases, as it is expected to do. Any questions regarding a particular budget should be directed to your Grants Coordinator or the Grants Administrator.
Page maintained by: Grant Support Services, brigett@clemson.edu