The ASUO Programs Finance Committee will present its final budget to the ASUO Senate on Wednesday, projecting a 5.34-percent increase in the amount of money budgeted to programs in the coming year.
The PFC’s final budget is more than $1.78 million, which is officially a 5.34- percent increase over last year’s PFC budget, even though it is about $29,000 less than the actual amount spent on ASUO programs last year. The difference is due to the removal from the committee’s oversight of $119,731 in costs for assessments and memberships in the Oregon Student Association and United States Student Association.
Sen. Nick Schultz, the committee chairman, said the PFC had a “pretty successful year. We said we’d come in at or below (a 5.35-percent increase over last year) and we did. By the skin of our teeth.”
By the numbers
| – | Total PFC Budget for ?2009-10: $1,782,255 |
| – | Percent change: +5.34 |
| – | Total increase: $90,390 |
| – | Total programs heard: 108 |
| – | New Programs: AccessABILITY Student Union, Arab Student Union, Graduate Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Students, National Society of College Scholars, Psi Chi, Saudi Student Association, Soccer is Real Fútbol |
| – | Programs with budgets removed from process: European Student Association, Student Association of Women in Architecture |
| – | Largest increase: Programs and Assessments, $20,529 |
| – | Largest decrease: ?Minority Law Student ?Association, $155 |
Out of 120 programs, five budgets were decreased and nine went unchanged. The Muslim Student Association saw the largest percentage increase of any program with 190 percent. The program’s budget for next year will be $2,059, but it has historically had much larger allocations. Sen. Noor Rajabzadeh, an MSA member, said the sudden decrease owed to post-9/11 measures such as the USA PATRIOT Act, which made Muslims abroad fearful of coming to school in the United States and made those in the country squeamish about membership in religiously-oriented organizations for fear of arousing suspicion.
The hearings process will continue so the PFC can decide on a yet-to-be introduced motion to censure Sen. Carina Miller. Committee member Andy Cox will introduce the motion Tuesday, and a hearing will take place Friday evening should the motion have a second.
Cox’s motion was filed in response to Miller’s vote to retain funds set aside for travel to legislative conferences during ASUO Executive’s budget hearing. Even if a member of the committee seconds the motion to censure, Schultz said it is unlikely the motion would pass on an up or down vote.
ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz vetoed the executive budget because of the travel funds, but said he would accept a revised motion that funds only registration expenses for the OSA and USSA conferences, rather than registration and travel expenses.
“The PFC made an overwhelming decision in favor of these conferences, so there’s nothing we can do,” Dotters-Katz said.
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