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.
