In an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday morning (10), the University Council (Consu) of Unicamp approved the Budget Distribution Proposal (PDO) for the year 2025. According to the proposal prepared by the Economics and Planning Advisory Board (Aeplan), the University will have a budget of R$4,2 billion for next year. Of this total, R$3,9 billion will come from the government of the State of São Paulo, through the transfer of part of the Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS). Resources from the University itself will account for the remainder.
The state government expects to collect R$2025 billion in ICMS in 181,8, which is 10,5% more than currently expected. The legislation provides that 9,57% of the net ICMS (minus the municipalities' share) collected must be allocated to state public universities. Of the amount transferred by the government to educational institutions, 2,19% will go to Unicamp. The University of São Paulo (USP) will receive 5,02% and the São Paulo State University (Unesp) 2,34%.
The expected increase in revenue, however, should not eliminate the deficit predicted for Unicamp. According to estimates by Aeplan, the University will close the year 2025 with a deficit of approximately R$ 369 million, and this is due to the increase in expenses resulting from the hiring of new professors and technical-administrative staff and as a result of the entry into force of new contracts for maintenance services of the fields, warehouse and urban cleaning.
Benefits
Consu also approved a series of benefits for civil servants on Tuesday. After negotiations with representatives of the Unicamp Workers' Union (STU) and the Unicamp Teachers' Association (Adunicamp), the rector's office presented the council with a proposal to create and expand benefits and increase resources for the career progression of civil servants.
Among the measures, the board approved the creation of a health benefit, intended for active employees, in the amount of up to R$900. This amount must be transferred to the employee for the payment of a health plan. The regulation of the benefit will take place in the coming months.
In addition, Consu stipulated an increase in the food voucher, which will go from the current R$1.420 to R$1.950. According to the dean's office, this amount is equivalent to an increase of 37,32%, to be in effect from January 2025. In addition to this increase, the board approved the granting of an extra-Christmas food voucher, to be credited in December 2024, in the amount of R$1.420.
To ensure the increase in the value of the food voucher and health assistance, R$170 million were reserved for 2025. The cost of the Christmas food voucher represented an extra expense of R$12 million, which, however, remained in this year's budget.
Finally, Consu agreed with the rector's proposal to increase by 20% the amount provided for career progression for civil servants – the way in which workers evolve in their careers. With this increase, the amounts provided for progression in all careers will increase from approximately R$45 million to R$54 million. In the case of staff from the Teaching, Research and Extension Support Program (Paepe), from R$21 million to R$25 million.
The Vice-Rector for University Development, Professor Fernando Sarti, stressed that the measures approved this Tuesday could represent significant gains for employees. According to Sarti, Unicamp will guarantee an additional annual amount equivalent to R$17 in the form of benefits for each active employee, starting in January 2025.
The head of the Office of the Vice-Rector for University Development (PRDU) also recalled that this type of measure is part of the career development policy currently underway at the University. A policy that, he said, is characterized by the adoption of permanent aid.
“By making gradual changes, we have a continuous process of improvement and ensure that promotions occur every year,” said Unicamp’s rector, professor Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles.
“This is the perspective of the current administration: to consolidate and continually strengthen measures that ensure improvements in people’s income. This is the perspective that has guided us since the beginning of the current administration,” added the rector. “This, of course, does not prevent discussions in other directions, but it indicates consistency with our vision for the University. In our understanding, it is possible to promote increased income, inclusion and merit. This is the effort we have made throughout this administration.”
