Student Senate to vote on budget allocation bills

Logan Raschke, News Editor

Student Senate will vote on five budget allocation bills during its Wednesday meeting. These bills detail how much money will go into the 2019-2020 budgets for University Board, the Student Recreation Center, Student Government and Apportionment Board if approved.

Apportionment Board is proposing Student Senate to approve the release of $139,227 for University Board, $186,223 for the Student Recreation Center, $44,000 for Student Government and $40,560 for Apportionment Board, according to the bills.

When it comes down to the Student Recreation Center, its 2019-2020 budget is divided into two main costs: graduate assistants and student employment. According to the proposal, the request of $54,000 would go to GAs, while a requested $132,000 would go to student employment.

On average, it costs $8.40 per person to run the SRC. The average hours worked in each staffed week totals to $465.25.

The budget proposal says the average cost per person will inevitably go up to $9.40 on Jan. 1, 2020 because by then, the minimum wage will have increased to $9.25.

Other departments at the SRC will have to decrease in other areas if new programs are created.

When it comes to University Board, the 2019-2020 budget is split into eight separate parts: general costs, special events, welcome back weekend, UB spotlight, UB human potential, Homecoming, marketing and productions. The cost is $42,880 for general costs, $16,703 for special events, $27,510 for welcome back weekend, $14,640 for UB spotlight, $11,935 for UB human potential, $10,429 for Homecoming, $9,530 for marketing and $5,600 for productions, according to the budget proposal.

Student Government’s FY20 budget expenses are comprised of personal services and unallocated expenses. According to the proposal, $9,825 is needed for personal services and $35,225 is needed for the unallocated expenses.

For personal services, $450 goes toward the First Night electrician, $7,875 goes toward grad assistantship and $1,500 goes toward student payroll (secretary, webmaster/graphic designer and the First Night DJ), according to the proposal.

A majority of the cost in unallocated expenses is by far scholarship and award opportunities ($22,500).

Otherwise, $36,625 is for other contractual expenses (SG GA dining dollars, Pantherpalooza, First Night, Internal Affairs and committees). The amount of $2,875 would be dedicated to printing (general, outreach marketing, Pantherpalooza, Student Action Team, First Night, Prowlin’ with the Prez and committees, for example).

Other expenses include computer services ($1,050), wearing apparel ($1,500), other commodities (total: $930: First Night supplies for $500, It’s On Us supplies for $150, Prowlin’ with the Prez for $200 and outreach for $80), non-employee travel ($900 total: IBHE-SAC for $500 and SAT for $400) and other costs.

The total expenses for student government for the FY19 budget were $50,000 compared to what the Apportionment Board is requesting the release of now: $45,050. That means student government would receive a $4,950 budget cut if the bill is approved.

Apportionment Board’s proposed FY20 budget is made up of two parts: personal expenses and unallocated services.

The total cost for personal expenses is $35,683.40 while the total cost for unallocated services is $5,469, according to the budget proposal.

Out of personal expenses, $34,683.40 goes to civil service regular salary and $400 goes to student payroll (AB secretary for fall and AB secretary for spring at $200 each).

When it comes to the unallocated services, $1,634 is dedicated to group insurance, $3,800 goes to university service fee (AB, UB, SG and sports and F) and $35 goes to printing (for bylaws, minutes and agendas), according to the proposal.

The fifth and final budget allocation bill the senate will vote on is a comprehensive one that approves the total amount allocated: $410,010.

Alicia Matusiak, vice president of student affairs, said $380,000 of the total allocation money would come from student fee funds while $30,010 would come from the reserve fund.

Logan Raschke can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].