After weeks of delay and controversy over pay cuts for some student leaders, the ASUO Student Senate took less than 15 minutes to approve the final budget for the committee that allocates student money during a meeting Monday night.
The Senate voted 11-2-2 to pass a $5,231,949 budget for the Programs Finance Committee, a 7 percent increase from last year. Last week, Senators rejected the PFC’s budget because of concerns from student leaders that pay cuts unfairly affected some student groups.
The finalized budget taps about $7,800 of unallocated reserves to provide one paid position each for eight groups that were initially slated to lose all stipend positions. The budget also increases monthly pay for the ASUO president and vice president from $175 to $400.
The budget includes a note recommending that next year’s Senate use over-realized funds and other reserves to provide additional stipends for groups and create a “relief committee” by April 30 to oversee the allocation of those funds.
Also at the meeting, the Senate recalled and altered the EMU Board of Directors’ budget to reflect pay changes resulting from the finalized PFC budget.
— Parker Howell