This argument has been given, and I don't disagree with it.  However, I have been in situations where the salary DID go up and the fringes ALSO went up.  This practice is fine if one or the other goes up, but you're short if they both go up.

The argument has also been given to increase the salaries by double what you normally do to cover the increase in fringes.  I don't see how that's any different or LESS inconsistent than inflating the fringes.

Is it true then, if your fringe rates on negotiated on your F&A rate agreement (at my previous institution they were not), those are the only rates you can use??

t.

Terri L. Fayle
Senior Grant Specialist
K-State Research & Extension Proposal Services
Waters Hall 105C
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506-4008
xxxxxx@k-state.edu

Voice 785-532-7255
FAX 785-532-5549
Cell 660-238-7165

----- Original Message -----
From: "Randall J Legeai" <xxxxxx@TULANE.EDU>
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 4:01:26 PM
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Inflation of Fringe Benefits in Proposed Budget

If you are using a fringe *rate* (i.e. a percentage of salary), and you build in an annual salary escalation as most people do, your fringe amounts will be escalated as well.
- Randy.

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Braman
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 3:47 PM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Inflation of Fringe Benefits in Proposed Budget

We use an inflation rate on the salary, not fringe. Although this year we had a significant fringe increase, so I am wondering if it isn't a valid practice to increase fringe as well. I am curious what others have to say.

Nicole

Terri Fayle wrote:
> All,
>
> I'd be interested to hear your comments regarding inflation of fringe benefits while creating a proposal budget.  My institution uses a published estimated rate for certain employee classes.  But when the charges actually hit the grant budget, it is the actual amount of charges for that employee, so in most cases different than what was proposed.
>
> Typically, no inflation is applied to fringes when creating multiple year budgets.  Since I'm new here, I did!  It has been suggested that I cannot inflate fringes because I am being inconsistent with the institutional published estimated rate.  I say poppycock!  I used the published estimated rate and added a bit!  That's what you do to protect your investigators budget.
>
> What say you??
>
> Terri L. Fayle
> Senior Grant Specialist
> K-State Research & Extension Proposal Services Waters Hall 105C Kansas
> State University Manhattan, KS 66506-4008 xxxxxx@k-state.edu
>
> Voice 785-532-7255
> FAX 785-532-5549
> Cell 660-238-7165
>
>
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======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.healthresearch.org (click on the
 "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner)

 A link directly to helpful tips:  http://tinyurl.com/resadm-l-help
======================================================================

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.healthresearch.org (click on the
 "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner)

 A link directly to helpful tips:  http://tinyurl.com/resadm-l-help
======================================================================