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The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

The Student News Site of University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Badger Herald

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SSFC approves Wisconsin Union budget of more than $10,000,000

Committee grants wage exemption for AHA due to Free Thought Festival
SSFC+approves+Wisconsin+Union+budget+of+more+than+%2410%2C000%2C000
Emily Neinfeldt

With little debate, the Student Services Finance Committee approved the Wisconsin Union 2015-16 budget of $10,586,316 with a vote of 11-0-1.

The budget includes a 2 percent increase in segregated fees for the organization which provides recreational, cultural and educational opportunities through offering events and services around campus. This comes to a $2.69 increase per student per semester which will produce $257,000 in revenue. The Wisconsin Union will put this segregated fee increase toward student wages, which will be raised to $8.65 for starting wages.

https://badgerherald.com/news/2015/02/03/union-council-approves-annual-budget-of-nearly-44-million-anticipates-deficit/

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SSFC Rep. Colin Barushok said he supports the budget because the Union provides good services and facilities for student use.

Rep. Jessica Franco-Morales said her only possible concern was whether student starting wages should be increased more than 15 cents.

Rep. Erin Harper said this was an important move in the wake of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget cuts.

“Considering the budget climate, this [increase] is showing the Union is committing to raising student wages even with current budget cuts,” she said.

SSFC approved a wage exemption for The Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics. Wage policy regulates that student employees can work 20 hours a week.

AHA is hosting a Free Thought Festival from March 13-15 in which employees will be working over 20 hours on just those days.

SSFC granted a wage exemption so student employees will be able to do festival planning and ordinary work duties during that week.

During the meeting, the committee also tabled Spring Eligibility Legislation until the last week of March.

As the legislation was written, it does not specify whether a student group can apply for funding both in the fall and in the spring, Rep. Todd Garon said. The legislation allows for student groups to apply for a budget in the spring to give them more time to formulate their budget but a loophole allows for groups to apply twice, he said.

The legislation was tabled until SSFC could have a more in-depth discussion on the eligibility calendar.

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