Westwood ? Kansas University Hospital leaders approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that is 17.4 percent above its projected expenses for the previous year.

Hospital officials said that the $969 million operating budget increased by that amount because of the hospital’s merger with the Kansas City Cancer Center.

That move added 21 hematologist/oncologists, six radiation oncologists and other non-physician staff members to the hospital’s employees.

The action was taken during the KU Hospital Authority Board’s meeting Tuesday, during which members also reappointed Bob Honse as the board’s chairman, and David M. Kerr as the board’s vice chairman.

Honse and Kerr were also named to the board’s nominating committee, which submits names to the governor to fill board vacancies. Also named to that committee were board members Betty Keim, Charles T. Sunderland and Pat Gaunce.