The Guardian previously reported on UCEN’s budget deficit on Nov. 15, in “UCAB Explores Fee Referendum.” UCEN cited maintenance, repairs and staffing expenses as primary factors in its fiscal problems, and had already enacted several measures aimed at reducing the deficit, including shortened hours, and the temporary closure of the Crafts Center.

According to UCEN’s website, a survey was sent to randomly selected students to help determine which services could be eliminated or reduced in order to balance the budget.

UCAB’s 2012 Student Usage and Priority survey presented students with several options for how UCEN would continue to operate, and what level of price increase — $13, $17 or $20 — most students would choose.

A final option was no increase in student fees, but included the risk of further closures and cutbacks to both Price Center and Student Center. The $13 increase was most popular with both graduate and undergraduate students.

The survey also asked students to rank their priorities for UCEN’s operations, with options ranging from late-night access to Price Center to free admission to student events. Students ranked maintaining the buildings in good working order, as well as keeping facilities, lounges and restrooms clean as their top concerns, while retaining operation of both the Che Cafe and the Gameroom sat at the bottom of the list.

UCEN made the complete results of the survey available on its website, along with assessments of each of its facilities.

Based on the results of the survey, UCAB’s recommendation is a referendum featuring a $13 increase per quarter plus CPI, resulting in a fee of $89.50. Currently, each student pays $76.50 per quarter.

Should students vote on the referendum in the spring, they will not see any fee increase for at least five years, according to the Nov. 15 issue of the Guardian.

UCEN President Albert Trujillo presented UCAB’s proposed solution to A.S. Council, which will ultimately determine the language of the referendum in conjunction with GSA.

“There is no guarantee that it will end up on the spring ballot,” Trujillo said. “But the hope of UCAB is that students will get the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not a fee increase is necessary.”