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Committee approves budget allocations
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The University of Wisconsin Student Services Finance Committee passed the 2005-06 budgets for the Associated Students of Madison’s bus-pass program and University Health Services in a meeting Thursday night.
SSFC also approved a referendum to allocate funds for renovations to the Memorial Union and Union South.
SSFC debated allocation of funding to renew ASM’s contract with Madison Metro Transit, which grants unlimited bus rides to students.
The 2005-06 ASM bus-pass budget was approved by SSFC at $2 million, rising 17 percent from the 2004-05 budget of $1.7 million.
SSFC representative Brad Vogel questioned the necessity for SSFC to pay for the renewal of the ASM buss-pass contract, proposing SSFC either allocate partial funding for the contract or eliminate the budget to decrease financial burden to the student body.
“If we provide partial funding or allocate no funding at all, I believe it is possible for the school to pick up costs for this program,” Vogel said.
Representative Barbara Kiernoziak refuted Vogel’s suggestion, citing the importance of the ASM bus-pass program and its widespread use by UW students and faculty.
“I want to fund [the ASM bus-pass program] as a whole,” Kiernoziak said. “When you’re dealing with a program that is just for students, we have to fund it as a whole.”
After Vogel’s proposition was widely rejected, SSFC voted to allocate funds for the entire amount of ASM’s contract with Madison Metro Transit.
“I think the ASM bus pass is the most popular program on campus,” SSFC Chair Janell Wise said. “A lot of students use it. That’s why [the contract] is so high — because it’s so popular.”
Wise added despite the large increase, the passage of the bus-pass budget proves SSFC is committed to the program.
The committee also voted to pass the proposed 2005-06 UHS budget of $9.9 million, allocating over $500,000 more than their current budget.
During the meeting, Wise stepped down as chair of SSFC to propose a referendum as a representative of the Union Council to allocate funds for major renovations to the Memorial Union and Union South.
Speaking with Union Vice President of Administration Ben Hawke, Wise proposed students pay 75 percent of proposed renovations to be done over the next 20 years. In the approved referendum, students will pay $3 for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 academic years, after which, student payments will increase $10 per year until renovations are complete.
Wise said many other UW System unions are being renovated, and if UW’s own union does not quickly follow, students will not be able to use it.
“If we keep pussy-footing around on this, it’s not going to happen, and the union will fall apart,” Wise said.
After slight scrutiny from representative Vogel, SSFC voted to pass the referendum.
SSFC also heard the budget request of $1.8 million from UW Recreational Sports, in addition to a $6.7 million request from Memorial Union student programs, which is nearly a $230,000 increase from their previous budget.
After SSFC approves a budget, it advances to ASM, Chancellor John Wiley and Gov. Jim Doyle before taking effect.
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The bus pass was not the focus of the meeting at all. Vogel said he had considered partial funding earlier, but decided against it and voted for the allocation.
There was real contention at the meeting over duplication of services in UHS Advertising and whether or not students should be compelled to support a union revamp.
This story does not accurately reflect what happened at the meeting.
Did Janell really actually say pussy-footing during the meeting? That is hilarious
WTF??? A 17% increase? Metro better start serving champagne.
SSFC had better have a darn good reason for this outrageous increase.
Kiernoziak is a hottie. Tons of attitude, but a hottie.
The options were this..pay the increase, or break our contract and not have a program next year. Which would you prefer, honestly?
and p.s. I don’t think the budgets go to Doyle..i think thats the Board of Regents
“The options were this..pay the increase, or break our contract and not have a program next year. Which would you prefer, honestly?”
Wow - with an attitude like that, why wouldn’t Metro ask for a 3,000% increase?
“why wouldn’t Metro ask for a 3,000% increase?”
Because they are in the middle of a 3 year contract with the University. The amount owed to continue the service was negotiated last year, and the terms obviously wouldn’t include a 3000% increase from last year to this. This budget request contained the operating costs for the Bus Pass Program and the payment for the 05-06 part of the contract. The committee decided to grant the funding request rather than breach the contract with Madison Metro and thus lose the Bus Passes entirely.
Why should last year’s negotiated 17% increase have anything to do with this year? As far as I know, the contract was not written in stone.