"I'll have a clearer idea of how we are going to adapt the project proposed budget to the real budget in February. I'm going to try to set aside money for research expenses like you. so I will know by then once I do the math. It sucks, they gave me the money, but not enough money, so I can't ask again and there is no appeal. It would have almost been preferable for them to simply refuse to fund it and try again next year."
This is an email written to me by an English native speaker. Is the last sentence grammatically correct? How will it change if we replace 'to simply refuse' with 'to have simply refused" and what other changes will it require if we do so?
Thanks.
