Winter term is the time when the ASUO, in hearings held by four budget committees, decides how it will likely disperse roughly $10 million among programs, departments and contracted services. Here’s a look at what each committee has done so far and what to expect in the rest of the term.

Programs Finance Committee
Last year’s Programs Finance Committee hearings were fraught with conflict over the Veterans and Family Student Association’s request for a larger-than-usual starting budget for a student program. In this year’s first four meetings, however, there has been little controversy.
Instead, the PFC has told many programs unsatisfied with the budgets decided upon by the committee to wait to be recalled at the end of the hearings process. At that time, the committee will decide which programs it wants to offer part of the $25,000 it has set aside in growth funds.
So far, 35 programs have come before the ASUO, receiving a total of $129,010. The VFSA was among them, backed by ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz, who recommended the committee meet the VFSA’s request, even though it was larger than the committee or the Executive would usually allow. But the PFC allocated $1,025 less than VFSA representatives requested, telling the program’s representatives they might be able to get more money after the committee has seen all programs.
PFC members anticipate a contentious meeting Friday. The committee will hold a hearing for the Student Insurgent, the second-highest funded publication on campus. Committee members say they don’t want to fund the Insurgent’s policy of sending its paper to prisoners because it takes money off campus. The Oregon Commentator and Women’s Center will also come before the committee Friday.
Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee
Because Lane Transit District bus passes will likely no longer be purchased by the ASUO because of Dotters-Katz’ transportation fee proposal, the ACFC expects to lower its budget this year without the $815,857 LTD contract.
The most controversial hearing this term is likely to be that of the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group, which ACFC members said will come under heavy scrutiny because committee members are concerned about the group’s spending.
“A lot of their student dollars go off campus,” ACFC member Ted Sebastian said.
Contracts with Legal Services and the Office of Student Advocacy expire this year, which means the ACFC will need to solicit competing bids for the services those offices provided. The committee has, however, already approved the OSA’s budget for 2009-10, giving it $129,822.
ASUO’s new subscription to the New York Times will be added to the remaining contracts.
Department Finance Committee
When the Department Finance Committee held a special hearing on Campus Recycling, the program brought enough supporters to pack the room. DFC members expect the next hearing to be just as crowded.
Dotters-Katz said he would veto any budget from the DFC that did not fully fund the program. The plans to do fund the program would use a combination of money from the DFC and more than $100,000 the University has received in tax credits for reducing its carbon emissions, Sen. Hailey Sheldon said.
Other than at the Jan. 20 hearing for Campus Recycling, DFC members anticipate little controversy about their budgets.
“Most of the others are pretty much settled,” DFC member Shiraz Bengali said.
EMU Board
The EMU is looking to execute more than $5 million in repairs. ASUO funds the building through the EMU Board, which has a budget of about $4.2 million that can be increased by up to 7 percent every year, according to ASUO rules. That budget has to support repairs in addition to 13 programs within the EMU, including The Buzz Café and EMU Child Care.
The constraints on what the committee is allowed to spend will force the board to be scrupulous with its finances this year, Sen. Emma Kallaway said. Many in the ASUO, including Dotters-Katz, have lamented their inability to do more for the EMU, but Kallaway says the board is focused on operating within its parameters.
“We’re protecting the whole building,” Kallaway said.
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