The $136.4 million in outlays for next year is a 4 percent increase in funding from this year. The final approval from the SEC came just days after PCAOB submitted its proposal.

The budget is used to oversee the auditors of public companies, as mandated by Sarbanes-Oxley. The oversight board is funded by fees from public companies, which will have to contribute $122.4 million to fund the board next year, according to the Associated Press, since extra funds from 2006 will carry over into next year.

The majority of PCAOB's outlays will be for personnel and related expenses primarily associated to the hiring and retention of the auditors needed to conduct inspections of registered public accounting firms. The board expects to grow to a total headcount of 519 employees by year-end 2007.

Next year's agenda includes inspections of the eight largest U.S. accounting firms, along with 215 smaller firms and 66 foreign firms.