Debate over complicated budget rules and program bylaws kept members of the Programs Finance Committee in a meeting late Monday evening.
Although the PFC approved increases for two fairly large budgets – the Co-op Family Center and the Oregon Daily Emerald – and gave money to two programs that were defunded this year, it kept its allocations low in an attempt to stick to the 2.5 percent benchmark set by the Student Senate.
The Co-op Family Center provides childcare for University students and employs several students as teachers. Representatives said parents with children in the program help out in many different areas.
University student Katherine Guy, whose children attend the Co-op, said the service makes life much easier on students who have a limited budget.
“We love the Co-op,” she said. “It’s made our lives really doable.”
PFC members recognized that the Co-op does some fundraising and was not asking for an unreasonable amount. The Co-op was granted a budget of $297,956 – an increase of 3.9 percent.
The Emerald, which is independent from the University, receives incidental fees to pay for a “bulk subscription.” It asked for a 6 percent increase.
After a nearly two-hour long discussion, the PFC approved an increase of 3.6 percent for a total budget of $138,510.
The Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society faced a large budget decrease because in past years the program did not spend all of its allocation.
While the ASUO executive recommended a 64.7 percent budget decrease, PFC chairman Oscar Guerra pointed out that a rule in the PFC bylaws requires a unanimous vote on any decrease of more than 25 percent. It did not seem that a unanimous vote was possible.
“We might be better to defund them at this point, follow through and start from scratch next year,” PFC vice chair Micah Kosasa said. “They have consistently shown that they’re not spending this amount of money.”
Other PFC members recommended a less harsh approach, suggesting the group receive $250 – less than the $300 that would be given to a brand-new group but more than the executive recommendation.
After realizing that a budget of $250 was still a large enough decrease to require a unanimous vote, the PFC approved a total budget of $260 for a 24.85 percent decrease.
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PFC allocates funds to several groups at Monday meeting
Daily Emerald
January 23, 2007
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