The Programs Finance Committee’s process of recalling groups with special circumstances that fell outside of the panel’s budgeting model began Monday night, and most of it went smoothly.
Only the Veteran’s Family Student Association, the last group of the night, inspired much debate.
The University’s Child Care Subsidy was given an additional $10,000 to help the program continue to serve students with children.
“I think it would help significantly,” Sen. Steven Wilsey said, though he admitted “it will not take on the full burden.” The group had asked for an additional $30,000, which was almost as much as the committee had to give to all of the groups being recalled.
Wilsey said he hoped the additional funds could be used to spread the service between more parents rather than giving greater subsidies to people already being helped. The PFC has no control over that, however, and representatives of the group said those priorities were hard to balance.
Campus recycling received an additional $5,000 to help pay student employees. In total the contracted service was given an increase of 7.7 percent over the 2007-08 budget.
Mills International Center was given an additional $6,000 to pay employees and help with utility costs. The department had requested around $6,500 to pay staff, and the cost of running its fireplaces had not been mentioned before.
PFC members said that because the utility bill was not raised during the center’s actual budget hearing or within the allotted time for appeals, the cost would have to be deducted from the extra $6,000. That left the center with an increase of $5,354 to pay employees, and an overall increase of 12 percent from its 2007-08 budget.
KD magazine was given an additional $2,000 on top of its starting budget of $300. Committee members said they considered the magazine for recall because publications have higher operating budgets than most student activities.
The Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation was given an additional $210, resulting in an overall increase of 5.7 percent from its 2007-08 budget.
Global Talk, another campus publication, was given an extra $700 more than its $300 starting budget. Students from the group said they hope to make their publication more like KD magazine. Global Talk has features in many different languages, and representatives said they would like to give each language more space in future editions.
One student group had its first hearing Monday night. The Student Bar Association was the last group to have a regular budget hearing.
There was some confusion about how much the group’s budget would have to increase just to maintain current services. But PFC members decided to award money for growth. The group’s final budget will change after final numbers for current services are determined.
The committee voted to give the group an increase of 3 percent-or $229-for a total budget of at least $7,877. Five members voted for the budget. Sen. Diego Hernandez abstained.
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