A referendum aiming to raise the wages of workers employed at many University of Wisconsin organizations might violate university policy if approved, according to one UW administrator.

The referendum in question, if approved by a student vote next week, would not allow the Associated Students of Madison to allocate student-segregated fee funding to university agencies that do not pay all employees a "living wage."

The university agencies that would be affected by the referendum are referred to as "auxiliary budgets," and include the Wisconsin Unions, recreational sports and University Health Services.

The goal of the referendum, sponsored by the Student Labor Action Coalition, is to ensure all UW employees are paid a "living wage," defined as a wage equal to or greater than 110 percent of the most recent federal poverty line.

However, Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell said the referendum would, in effect, cut student government participation out of the segregated fee process for auxiliary budgets.

Unlike allocable budgets, which include student organizations, Bazzell said ASM only has the right to make funding recommendations to the chancellor for auxiliary budgets and cannot make direct allocation decisions.

"Students have the right to advise the chancellor, but do not enjoy the right to approve or disapprove those budgets," Bazzell said, referring to auxiliary budgets.

By saying ASM could not make recommendations on auxiliary budgets for organizations that do not pay a living wage, Bazzell claimed ASM would simply be removing themselves from the process.

However, SLAC representative Joel Feingold said it has not been stipulated by the state government or courts whether students have the right to determine funding levels for auxiliary budgets.

"The only thing that has been litigated before has been allocable fees," he added.

Feingold added the issue would have to be resolved by state courts if the UW administration attempts to block the referendum, if approved.