Preparation of the Operating Budget involves forecasting income from all sources, using sub-budget models for DEST, international, research and other income in order to allocate funds to Schools, Academic Divisions and Administrative Divisions.

Additionally, the team is responsible for negotiating budget bids from administrative areas with the Office of Financial Services, and then reporting draft budgets to the University Budget Committee, and under its direction, preparing the final operating budget and the Budget Book.

Student load (EFTSL) is the main driving force behind the model allocation. Funding clusters receive an allocation of the model funding according to their weightings and the load associated with the cluster. Student load is allocated to each cluster according to it's discipline group/field of Education. A more complete description of cluster calculation and tables showing the unit/cluster assignment are also available. (see related links below)

The budget for the following year is always calculated on projected load, as opposed to actual load. As part of monitoring the accuracy of the projections, an actual v's projected load driven budget comparison is made.