Members of the University Board presented a potential budget plan to the Apportionment Board, which could result in an overall increase of $4,530 for the 2014-2015 year.

Funding for the UB comes from student fees, which is split between the Apportionment Board, sports and campus recreation, student government and the UB.

The UB had an overall budget last year of $199,591, and the members are now seeking a grand total of $204,121 for the 2014-2015 year.

The funds are divided between 13 sections of the UB: general, comedy, cultural arts, homecoming, ideas and issues, mainstage, marketing and public relations, movies, special events, Quakin’ along with Welcome Back Weekend, productions and Pantherstock.

General costs include student payroll, scholarships, retreats and conferences for the UB staff. Last year the allocated amount was $47,577. The proposal called for a $4,197 decrease, totaling $43,380.

The comedy section helps bring professional comedic artists and entertainers throughout the year. This includes major and minor comedians, student comedians and comedy troupe events. Acts that have been brought to Eastern include Sean Larkin, which had an attendance of more than 55 students, according to the proposal; Ray Lipowski, with an attendance of more than 65 students; and Seaton Smith, totaling more than 55 students in attendance.

The budget proposal asks for a decrease of $1,000, giving next year’s budget $13,900.

The cultural arts section includes events such as the “Let’s Talk About It” series, the Cultural Chocolate Factory and the production, “A Raisin in the Sun.”

Asking for an increase of $850 to bring the total for next year to be $13,770, UB chairwoman Kara Butorac said this was to help bring others to campus.

“Current plan is to bring the Chinese Acrobats: Golden Dragons which we had two years ago to great success,” she said.

For homecoming, Butorac requested a decrease of $215, resulting in a budget of $12,785.

Homecoming encompasses the seven-day celebration that includes Blue Royalty Coronation, Yell Like Hell Competition, Panther Patrol and the Homecoming Parade and Tailgate.

The allocated funds for homecoming 2013-2014 were $13,000.

As for ideas and issues, Butorac said the reason for the increase was because of the demand by students for certain performers.

Butorac requested an increase of $9,450, bringing last year’s allocated funds from $11,750 to $21,200.

“We think that this increase will help us get speakers that are relevant to pop culture and our generation,” Butorac said.

Butorac also said the sections mainstage and special events were requested to have a decrease, but in reality it is just moving funds around.

“Previously each contributed to Welcome Back Weekend and Pantherstock so now each of those events have their own budgets in hopes of not going over on those events, so the two committees can focus the rest of their budgets on the remainder of the year,” she said.

Mainstage encompasses events and artists like Jasmine Mann, Dakaboom, “So You Think You Can Rap?” and Battle of the Bands.

The request for mainstage is a decrease of $5,040 to go to $6,960.

Special events covers areas like Up All Night and Spring Fling. The request was for a decrease of $6,520 from last year’s $25,370.

The marketing and public relations division, which is responsible for graphic designers, post-it-positions, a webmaster and the public relations position, had a requested decrease of $533.

Quakin’ along with Welcome Back Weekend, now encompasses all of opening weekend, including Up All Night and New Student Mixer.

Butorac said this was another instance of not really an increase in funds, but instead just moving funds around because of the new additions.

The increase calls for an additional $7,255, bringing the total for next year to $25,665.

Pantherstock which includes live bands and concerts, called for an increase of $6,950 – which Butorac said was more of just moving around funds.

“We have had it in the past along with celebration,” she said. “So most years it has gotten canceled or not many people came due to weather. We are hoping to do a concert feel with other activities similar to an Up All Night.”

The productions division, which handles technical support, may get a decrease of $2,470 adding up to $5,130.

The only area not requested for either an increase or a decrease is the movies. The request kept the budget at the same $20,964.

Members of the Apportionment Board will convene to discuss the proposals at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].