The A.S. Council approved its 2009-10 budget late last night, and for the first time in the group’s history, there’s still money left.
With a projected revenue of $2.7 million, the council allocated everything but $369,641, which will fall into place at the annual Fall Quarter budget-revision session after campus enrollment numbers ‘mdash; and, therefore, activity-fee revenue ‘mdash; are finalized.
This new approach reflects a broader ‘financial overhaul’ that A.S. President Utsav Gupta hopes will increase accountability and transparency.
The budget includes $550,000 for the annual Sun God Festival, $391,047 to A.S. administrative salaries and $226,629 to student organizations.
Other highlights include two new student positions for the A.S. Graphic Studio and an A.S. Events Production Manager to assume the advisory role previously held by the University Events Office. According to Gupta, UEO has extended its influence over A.S. events ‘mdash; such as the Sun God Festival ‘mdash; in recent years. This full-time A.S. administrative position, with a salary of $61,731, will help improve the efficiency of A.S. Concerts and Events operations, Gupta said.
The most contentious section of the budget was the list of council stipends.
Campuswide Senator Katie Hall motioned to strike the line item funding stipends in the president’s office, which sparked the debate.
Without stipends, ‘you get an A.S. that has an extremely difficult time getting non-A.S. people to get involved,’ Vice President of Finance and Resources Peter Benesch said, emphasizing his longstanding support of senatorial compensation.
Campuswide Senator Bryant Pena reminded councilmembers of their pledge to students during last winter’s activity-fee referendum campaign.
‘We are all here because we decided we want to invest our free time in bettering this campus,’ he said. ‘I’d like to get a stipend too. I’d like for all of us to get 10 grand a year ‘hellip; but we’re not in a position to do that. I supported the referendum so that we could put that money back into student activities.’
Ultimately, the amendments to Gupta’s proposed council stipends were minimal, with the final allocation totaling $107,520.
The council will make all remaining allotments third week of Fall Quarter 2009, following research into specific line items this summer.
Readers can contact Jesse Alm at [email protected].