On the ASUO election ballot, I find the description regarding the 7 percent cap ballot question deceptive. It asks whether the combined major budgets should be capped at 7 percent growth annually, implying that we currently have no cap at all, and this institutes one. Therefore, students are tricked into thinking they are putting a downward pressure on their fees by voting for it.
We currently have a cap, however, and the proposed cap is weaker. Currently, each major budget is capped at 7 percent. In other words, if one major budget only grows by 5 percent, the others still can only grow up to 7 percent. The average growth is therefore 7 percent or less. If this measure passes, the combined budget is capped at 7 percent. So, if one major budget grows by 5 percent, the others can grow by more than 7 percent, provided they average 7 percent growth. This will all but guarantee the average growth is exactly 7 percent.
In short, the ballot question tricks students into thinking a “yes” vote will put downward pressure on their fees when it will really put upward pressure on them.
You have to make your own judgment on how you vote on it. I just thought you deserved to know the truth of what it would do.
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