“Recall” was the word of the night Thursday at the ASUO Programs Finance Committee meeting as the Multicultural Center, Student Senate, Child Care Subsidy and PFC itself all had recall hearings.
All four groups were recalled because of budget oversights; none of the groups budgeted for a mandatory minimum wage increase.
Student Senate and PFC raised the pay of administrative assistants to $7.60, bringing the new PFC budget to $9,326 and the new Student Senate budget to $25,748. The Multicultural Center’s new budget was raised to $84,738 and the Child Care Subsidy was raised to $236,296.
Lane Transit District also made an appearance before PFC, appealing its $526,409 budget allocation and asking for the amount originally requested.
PFC found the 15.15 percent increase previously granted large enough, despite recommendations from the ASUO Executive to support LTD’s request for approximately $15,000 more.
“The increase that was granted at the first hearing … is a substantial increase,” PFC at-large member James Tilford said. “We also need to have a little more involvement in the process so that future PFC can make good decisions that are mutually beneficial for both parties.”
Although LTD did not win PFC’s approval, it did receive the support of community members.
“Well I’m for it,” campus gadfly Bruce Miller said in favor of LTD.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, Baha’i went before PFC to get its mission and goals statement approved. The revision passed with a 6-0-1 vote. PFC Chairwoman Kate Shull said, however, because Baha’i didn’t get its funding paperwork in on time, PFC cannot fund the group this year. Baha’i can go before Student Senate to request funding.
PFC also recalled the Career Center’s and the Oregon Daily Emerald’s budgets, setting hearings for tonight. However, Emerald Editor in Chief Michael J. Kleckner filed a grievance Friday with the ASUO Constitutional Court against PFC, stating that PFC has no clear rules regarding the recall process and therefore the process should be halted.
The Constitutional Court issued a stay against PFC, putting on hold the budget recall process. PFC is prohibited from resuming the recalls until the Court has ruled.
PFC is finished with its regular hearings for the year and must present its final budget to the Student Senate on Wednesday unless PFC members vote to extend the deadline.
Ali Shaughnessy is a freelance writer for the Emerald.