Memorial Union and Union South are one step closer to receiving a facelift.

In order to help fund an approximately $153 million plan to renovate Memorial Union and build a new Union South, the Wisconsin Union Directorate, Feb. 1, proposed raising student-segregated fees by up to $96 per student, per year, for up to 30 years.

The directorate imposed a March 1 deadline on itself to garner the 1,952 signatures required to put the proposal on an Associated Students of Madison ballot.

As the deadline passed yesterday, a WUD official said the organization collected more than 2,500 signatures — surpassing the internal goal of the WUD — which would put the proposal on the ASM ballot next month, awaiting approval from the University of Wisconsin student body.

"It's reassuring that there are students behind this project," said Shayna Hetzel, vice president of external relations for the WUD, which oversees the Union renovation plan. "It's helped reenergize everyone that there are students on campus who support this project."

However, the proposal has not passed yet, and according to ASM Chair Eric Varney, Hetzel and WUD still face obstacles in having the funding approved.

According to Varney, the cost of the project to students is too high.

"At the cost of $96 a year to students, it's ridiculous," Varney said. "It comes down to whether students want a new, renovated Union or keep an extra $100 each year."

If approved, the project would include a remodeling of Memorial Union — which currently does not meet many safety codes put in place after the Union's original construction — and a completely new and larger Union South to be constructed by 2010.

Wisconsin Union Directorate representatives hope to pay for the first phase of the project using student-segregated fees.

Every year, students pay an additional segregated-fee payment on top of their tuition to fund student organizations, a variety of student services — such as University Health Services — as well as part of the operating costs for the two Wisconsin Unions.

This year, student segregated fees cost each student more than $600.

In a previous interview, Varney said with the number of student organizations requesting funding this year combined with the WUD-proposed increase, segregated fees could rise to more than $800 next year, if not more.

Varney reiterated his argument Wednesday.

"I think students should pay something, but not a $100 a year for 30 years," he said.

Hetzel, however, said most of the criticism directed against the plan is founded on misinformation.

Rumors that the newly renovated Memorial Union and new Union South would have corporate hotels and that the UW administration would cover the construction costs if segregated fees do not are all false, Hetzel said.

She added that misinformation was the largest issue the WUD has to address in garnering support for the plan.

"If we clear up the rumors and inaccurate information, students will follow this plan," she said. "If students choose to support or oppose this plan, we want their opinions based on facts."