The ASUO Departments Finance Committee wrapped up its deliberations on an issue that has been hotly contended within the ASUO on Tuesday night.
The issue on the table: funding the Oregon Athletic Bands for the 2013-2014 season. After meeting for less than half an hour, the DFC approved the full financing of the OAB, including a budget increase of nearly 6.5 percent — to $152,951.
According to ASUO Senator Lamar Wise, the committee’s decision on Tuesday was a “complete 180” from their earlier stance. In early February, the DFC voted unanimously to decrease the OAB budget by 13.1 percent, hoping to replace that amount of ASUO funding with additional OAB funding from University of Oregon departments. When replacement funds within the UO system were not located after an initial two-week period, ASUO President Laura Hinman suggested that the DFC revisit their proposal for the coming year, urging them to fund the band completely.@@http://uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/Lamar*Wise@@ @@http://uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/hinman@@
The DFC’s final budget will face approval by the ASUO Senate in a meeting later in the week. If approved, the OAB’s funds will be payed out in three lump sums over the upcoming fiscal year.
Although funds have been approved for the coming budget cycle, talks between Hinman and UO departments concerning the possibility of institutionalizing the OAB’s budget in future terms are expected to continue in May.