The Student Senate has decided to create study groups to determine whether there is a problem with the ASUO’s current system for allocating funds.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, three senators offered up a bill that suggested moving the responsibility for ASUO contracts, such as the Lane Transit District bus passes, and departments, such as the Student Recreation Center, from the Programs Finance Committee to the Athletics Department Finance Committee.
Senators agreed that the move was a bit premature, and discussed creating budget process review committees to study whether there are problems with the current system.
Senate President Sara Hamilton asked senators whether they think there is a problem with the current structure. The only senator who did not think there is a problem is Sen. Nate Gulley.
Sen. Jacob Daniels said he thinks the process is too politicized.
Sen. Jeremy Ebner said he thinks the benchmark, the process by which the Senate sets spending goals before budgeting begins, is “messed up.”
Sen. Micah Kosasa said he thinks there are three major issues: “ignorance, assumptions and inability.” Kosasa elaborated that people assume they know where money is wasted in the ASUO.
Using the rec center’s deficit as an example of inability, Kosasa said, “For the past three or four years, they’ve been told what they’re allowed to spend and they haven’t listened.”
Sen. Jacqueline Justice agreed. “We need to say ‘look, this is how much growth we’re going to allow this year.’”
Hamilton reminded senators that the process for allocation had been stagnant for more than 10 years.
“Are we going to be the Senate that passes this on to the next Senate?” she asked. “It’s like a really slow wagon – everyone’s got to be on.”
A memo from Senate officers to the rest of the Senate states, “We believe, and many people share this concern, that the current budgeting structure needs to be reviewed to see if it is adequately serving programs, departments and contracts, and thus, serving students.”
The Senate is now looking for interested students who would like participate in the review groups. The groups will be charged with finding the challenges in the budget process, identifying inefficiencies, and reporting the findings to the Senate.
For more information or to get involved, call Senate at (541) 346-3749 or e-mail [email protected].
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