PFC benchmark could

secure a $76,761 increase in spending for 2004-05
Student groups could get a little more money next year if the ASUO Student Senate approves a benchmark that the ASUO Programs Finance Committee set last week. The benchmark would secure a 1.6 percent increase in spending for the 2004-05 fiscal year.
The proposed benchmark increase is far less than the 16.1 percent increase that was approved for the 2003-04 fiscal year because of fewer state-mandated increases this year, PFC Chairman Adrian Gilmore said.
Last year, the state of Oregon mandated increases totaling $62,230 for items such as minimum wage increases. This year, the mandated increases total just $18,523.
Overall, the PFC benchmark calls for a $76,761 increase in spending, which would result in a $4,908,830 total budget.
“What we do is we go through line by line and approve each item in the budget,” Gilmore said. “It’s basically to give an estimate of what the budget should be for next year.”
Student groups can apply to the committee for funding increases, at which point PFC determines whether the increase is warranted.
“Based on the evidence presented (by student groups) at the (PFC) hearing, we decide if that number would be appropriate or if there’s another number that might be appropriate,” Gilmore said.
Gilmore said the intention of the benchmark is to create a boundary for PFC allocations. If PFC allocations exceed the benchmark by less than seven percent, they must go to the Student Senate for approval. If the allocations exceed the benchmark by more than seven percent, however, the matter is referred to the ballot for students to decide.
The 2004-05 benchmark includes $900 in start-up funding for new student groups. The new groups that have sought funding are the Association of School Psychology Students, Art History, Family Law and Practice and U-Lindy, a swing dance group.

— Chuck Slothower