The ASUO Programs Finance Committee will have its first budget hearing today, taking the initial step in allocating roughly $1.7 million of student money to ASUO programs.
The PFC will evaluate nearly 100 student groups during hearings through March 13. The process will be the first since changes to the ASUO Constitution removed University departments partially funded by the ASUO and contracted services from the PFC’s authority.
“It’s a lot nicer that we cut down on the groups that we’re hearing because it makes it a lot easier to hear every program,” Sen. Carina Miller said.
This fall, the PFC set a limit of a 5.35 percent increase over its 2007-08 budget, equalling roughly $1.72 million. Program requests range from budgets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, for large groups such as the Designated Driver Shuttle service, to programs with budgets under $500, like the Pre-Dental Club.
In the hearings, the PFC listens to a presentation from each program and asks questions regarding the group’s spending in the past year. The PFC committee and the ASUO Executive present recommendations for the coming year’s budget and, after a debate, decide how much money to give the programs.
“We can’t do everything that every program wants,” said Miller, who is one of seven members on the panel, though she added that the solutions the committee proposes are still fair.
The first hearing begins today at 5 p.m. in the EMU Board Room. The meeting is scheduled to run through 11:15 p.m.
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PFC to hold first budget hearing of the year
Daily Emerald
January 4, 2009
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