By Linnea Cavallo, (Whetstone Staff)

If you ever wondered where your tuition money goes, take a look at Wesley College’s budget.

Much of what the college spends is reported on the IRS 990 form the school is required to send to the Internal Revenue Service each year to show that it is a non-profit entity.

Everything that the school reports on this form is public information and available to any student who requests it. The form includes what it pays to heat the buildings, how much the president earns and how much scholarship money is awarded.

There’s a lot more that the school budget – which, in 2010, the latest budget available, totaled nearly $43 million – has to cover than what students usually see or even think about.

For example, Wesley doesn’t own Zimmerman and Malmberg Hall; it rents it.

“It never even crossed my mind that the school would rent a dorm building,” said senior Kaitlin Evans. “I just assumed they owned it.”

The money that is used to pay rent to Zimmal Properties for these two buildings – $2.3 million – comes from students’ room and board fee.

Along with having to pay for the rent, or leasing, of the properties, students also pay for the costs that come with it.

Like living in a home, there are bills, such as heat and electricity; $1.1 million pays for the utilities in all of the buildings.

In 2010, the school spent nearly $2.1 million on maintenance fees. The college paid this to the Aramark facility service, which was providing the service at the time. It also paid to the Aramark Food Service about $3 million.

“It makes sense why it costs that much when thinking about it,” Kerely said. “When I lived in the dorms there were always lights, TVs or something was always on.”

Part of the money that is on the budget that students see again includes the grants given to students. Although the college collected student tuition and fees of $32.4 million, it gave back to students nearly $11 million in scholarships and awards in 2010.

The form also includes the top salaries.

President William Johnston is the top salaried employee at Wesley College, and earns $247,000 a year, close to the median expected salary for a college president.

But, on top of getting paid that money, like most college presidents, Johnston gets a house and a car included in his job.

“A car can be taxable,” said chief financial officer Alan Russell. “So, instead of giving him money, the school gives him a car.”

The next five top employees include Chris Wood, vice president of institutional advancement, at $122,507; Dr. Patricia Dwyer, vice president of academic affairs, at $121,414; Professor Malcolm D’Souza earned $108,099, while Professor Lucille Gambardella (now retired) made $104,343; former chief financial officer Eric Nelson is listed at $98,924.

“The Board of Trustees approves the annual budget, which includes salaries,” Russell said.

Along with paying for those top employees, the school’s budget must also cover all of the other salaries and wages. This total cost is $11.3 million.