The Student Services Finance Committee officially recommended the budgets of the Wisconsin Union and the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program for next year without much debate or alterations to any specific budget items.

The Union budget, which includes a $5 increase in segregated fees for students for next year, received broad rather than line-item recommendations from the committee.

The budget contains a 6.9 percent increase, which exceeds the 1.9 percent increase cap set by University of Wisconsin System administration. However, the Union is under no obligation to follow the recommendations of the committee.

As it stands, the Union budget is $39,063,500 for 2010-11.

According to Union Director Mark Guthier, the Union budget crossed the threshold because of all the programs the Union funds.

SSFC Secretary Matt Manes wanted to urge transparency from the Union and put aside any hostility that might exist between the two groups over the naming of the Union.

Rep. Jake Burow said the $5 increase in segregated fees was necessary to make sure there are no maintenance concerns in the new Union building.

“As students, we really have to bite the bullet on [maintenance costs],” Manes said.

Manes said the Union was not transparent with the breakdowns for each of the food units offered through the Union and some of the food units were not profiting.

Guthier said he wasn’t used to providing the breakdowns for the delis and other places to eat on campus because segregated fees do not cover food units.

SSFC requested the Union present a list of programs which could potentially be cut to save money.

Manes suggested the Union follow the model of the University Health Services budget, which presented the committee with a list of services to cut if deemed necessary.

However, if the Union follows the request, the list of money saving programs will apply to the 2011-12 budget.

The committee also requested the Union separate their revenue accounts in order to run an internal review to determine the expenses of separate accounts.

According to Manes, as the Union budget accounts stand, funds from segregated fees and revenue from food units and other paid services offered by the Union fall into the same “pool of funds.”

This hinders students’ ability to see how the Union is using segregated fees, Manes said.

“We can’t say whether or not they can separate their accounts,” Williams said. “The benefit to students is great.”

The recommendation was passed unanimously by the committee.

CCTAP’s budget passed with almost no discussion among the committee members.

CCTAP was praised for being fiscally responsible, and commended for staying at the 1.9 percent threshold of how much a budget can increase.

“Give them a thumbs up and send them on their way,” Manes said at the start of the meeting.

The budget was recommended with no alterations from the committee.