Equipment Purchases

Seattle Colleges has frozen equipment purchases bought with operating budget funds, with exceptions as stated below. 

Note: the FY27 operating budget contained a 5% reduction in funding for equipment, goods and services, and other purchasing activities. Savings from this freeze serves to ensure that those new budget limitations can be achieved.

Exemptions and Exceptions

The freeze on equipment purchases does not apply to equipment:

• Funded exclusively by self-support or revenue-backed programs that are operating at a profit including but not limited to private or federal grants (often found in 145), auxiliary services (570), student activity fees (522), lab fees (148) or state board approved capital projects.
• With a cost of less than $10,000.
• Necessary for compliance or legislative mandate.
• Necessary to protect life or public safety.
• Necessary to protect data privacy and cyber security.
• Necessary to carry out the core functions of a program or unit, with president or chancellor approval.

Executive Authority

Additional equipment purchases may be necessary per the discretion of the college president (for college budgets) or chancellor (for district/district-wide budgets). Due to the 5% reduction in funds available for equipment purchases, confirming with budget staff that funds are still available will be needed as part of an exception request.

Equipment Definition and Purchasing Rules

Equipment includes furniture, equipment, and software with a useful life of more than one year and an individual unit value of $10,000 or more (as noted in Section 75.70.10 of the State Administrative and Accounting Manual). The prohibition covers both purchases and leases of equipment). Splitting purchases during any fiscal period is not allowed and subject to audit exceptions.