A committee of student government began its first round of budget hearings for the 2013-2014 fiscal year at its meeting Monday, hearing presentations from two student organizations.

The Student Services Finance Committee heard budget proposals from Movimiento Estudantil Chicano de Aztl?n and Badger Catholic. The presentations from the student organizations addressed any adjustments to the budgets from the previous fiscal year.

Badger Catholic finance chair Nicholas Checker said he did not think it would be right to ask for an increase in funds during these economically difficult times.

“We are a fiscally responsible organization,” he said.

Badger Catholic reduced its requested budget through the elimination of several paid positions and the adjustment of several expenses in programming. The group is looking to be more responsible with certain aspects of its funding, Checker said.

Checker also said one of the most significant changes requested in the proposal is the elimination of the bookkeeping position. He said he felt the overlap between the duties of the bookkeeper and other positions could be absorbed by other positions within the organization.

SSFC Rep. Sarah Neibart expressed concern about previous overspending on printing expenses in the previous fiscal year, considering the organization had proposed a reduction in that expense for the upcoming year.

Checker said the reduction was made because the organization felt they could be more responsible with printing expenses. He said the overspending was due to lax bookkeeping and miscommunication.

“The most difficult thing to budget for is salaries, [since] that’s what’s fluctuates the most,” Checker said. 

He also said Badger Catholic did not foresee any overspending or underspending because they have budgeted effectively.

During the meeting, MEChA proposed a budget increase from the 2011-2012 fiscal year. The main proposed increases arose from the need for new non-rental equipment.

MEChA representatives expressed the need for new multimedia equipment to aid its direct services. MEChA representative Nurys Uceta said they wanted to extend their CulturArte program to digital media through the purchase of a digital camera, Adobe software and a new projector.

“We need a projector so we don’t keep renting from the libraries,” Uceta said.

Uceta said they cannot always rely on the libraries for projectors. She said MEChA does its workshops through media, so their need for this equipment is necessary.

MEChA also expanded its budget to include changes to paid positions in the organization. They now have separate positions for a CulturArte coordinator and facilitators during the academic year and summer, Uceta said.

Uceta emphasized the importance of funds for these positions. 

“Summer is when most of our planning happens,” she said. “[It’s] where we are able to create a better program for the academic year.”

When asked if MEChA saw potential for over or under spending, Uceta said only the programming that is not planned ahead has the potential to be underspent on.

The final budget decisions for Badger Catholic and MEChA will be made at the SSFC meeting on Thursday.