University Health Services presented a budget increase to the Student Service Finance Committee Monday, while the Recreation Sports program did not request any increase for the 2010-11 academic year.
Sarah Van Orman, director of UHS, said with the projected number of visits students will make next year, there must be an increase in funds to keep providing services.
The proposed 2010-11 budget for UHS is $13,629,400. Segregated fees account for $12,353,900 of the total budget.
To keep up with inflation for health care and the increased number of student visits, Van Orman presented SSFC with a 6.08 percent increase in the budget. Though the increase is significantly higher than the 1.9 percent increase threshold set by UW System Administration, Van Orman said it was necessary to meet the demand of services at UHS.
The increase includes, but is not limited to, custodial costs and some staff salary increases, according to the UHS budget.
Van Orman said it is unclear whether this will be a one-time increase, or whether there will be increases in upcoming years’ budgets.
According to the UHS proposed budget, approximately 77,012 students will visit in 2010-11.
Because of the need for H1N1 vaccinations and the number of H1N1 cases this year, approximately 83,512 student visits are projected for the 2009-10 year. This is more than the 77,000 student visits UHS budgeted for.
If the 6.08 percent increase is found to be unacceptable, UHS proposed to cut a number of programs, including the Sports Medicine and Wellness Programs, and the elimination of a prevention staff member.
According to Van Orman, 95 percent of the services provided by UHS are free and the increase will allow UHS to keep providing these services at no cost to students.
There is an expected increase in need for doctors and nurses in the coming years, according to the UHS budget.
Rec Sports also presented their budget, which had no increases for the 2010-11 year.
The budget for the 2010-11 academic year totals $3,564,200, with segregated fees making up $1,953,300.
According to SSFC Secretary Matthew Manes, students currently pay $25.95 per semester toward Rec Sports.
This is better than any rate a student could get for a gym membership, Manes said.
Rec Sports Director Dale Carruthers offered a presentation on the NatUp 2010 referendum, which proposes a new addition to the Natatorium.
Carruthers said while the student population has stabilized in the last decade with more than 40,000 students, the number of student visits to the recreational centers in the last decade has more than doubled.
Carruthers presented the committee with student comments that described the Nat as “dungeon-like.”
If the referendum to put the addition on the Nat is passed in April of this year, the program would cost students $54.19 per semester for 30 years, said Lisa Learish, senior accountant of Rec Sports.
However, Carruthers said the projected fee is only correct if the addition is completely funded by segregated fees, which it will not be.
A pig roast for the Associated Students of Madison Kick-Off was discussed at the meeting, as well.
