The University of Wisconsin Union proposed Monday a 3 percent increase in its 2008-09 budget to the Student Services Finance Committee.

Wisconsin Union President John Barnhardt said Union administration anticipates a $131,200 revenue deficit for 2008-09, mostly due to the closing of Union South in January 2009.

Union South currently contributes to the Union?s revenue stream through retail food and catering, recreation services and commissions from two ATM machines in the building.

Though there will be a significant cut in revenue from 2009 to spring 2011 when Union South is expected to reopen, Associate Director Hank Walter said. The Union will also receive revenue from a soon-to-open restaurant in Grainger Hall fall 2008, and two new coffeehouses at the Memorial Union and the Waisman Center.

Additional expenses include a 2.25 percent increase in permanent staff salary, increased allowances for staff health insurance and also expected increases in the cost of food and paper products.

According to Barnhardt, the proposed 2008-09 budget includes $200,000 in student wage increases and $45,000 in food service contract wage adjustments.

The Wisconsin Union currently hosts nearly 1,000 student events yearly, including free weekly music performances year-round, Hoofer outdoor recreation programs, more than 200 film screenings, World Music Weekend and the Distinguished Lecture Series.

?Along with those programs, we also have the Morgridge Center for Public Service in the Red Gym, and more than 27,000 campus reservations for student org meetings, programs, campus events, recruitment fairs and others,? Barnhardt said.

After a fall 2007 canceled event triggered a UW fraternity to accuse the Union of discriminating against some student organizations when planning events, Barnhardt said the group set up to handle the issue has had ?considerable progress? in reformulating Union policies in event planning.

?Nothing has been approved by council; they met all through fall, and they have continued to meet in January and February,? Barnhardt said. ?When I say considerable progress, I mean that all bodies are talking, and that they agree that something must change.?

The group, named Alliance for Program Equality, includes Union staff, UW police, university administrators and students.

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