ASUSU takes closer look at budget
Associated Students of Utah State University are taking a closer look at their budget and examining where funds are being used, where revenue is being drawn and how this money can be used to benefit Utah State University students.
The Howl generated approximately $10,000 more this year than in years past, said Andy Dilley, activities vice president for ASUSU. As a result, ASUSU is using that money “to benefit students in ways that we normally couldn’t,” Dilley said.
“The reason we charge money for activities like Homecoming and the Howl is so we can provide activities free or at a very low cost to students,” Dilley said. “Most ASUSU sponsored events are free. We want to make sure students get free activities because we are all students and we don’t want to hamstring anybody.”
Dilley said the revenue generated from the Howl, excluding the additional $10,000 raised, will go back into the activities fund to provide students with additional activities. The activities committee has decided to give the $10,000 to the Student Relations and Athletics committees.
Similarly, the $10,000 ASUSU received from the publisher of the Student Directories is also being used to benefit students “in ways that our budget normally wouldn’t allow us to,” said Nollie Haws, ASUSU public relations vice president.
Haws said the main expenditure of the directory money has been to the Student Relations committee, whose purpose it is to reach out to students and promote ASUSU. Haws said without this money, ASUSU couldn’t have held the Candlelight Vigil.
The Student Relations committee has also used this money for “the Student Relations tables where we meet students and get their input about campus issues, as well as provide or another small incentive for taking their time with us, sending flowers and condolences to the families of students who have been injured or died during the summer or school year, recognizing student academic achievement, and doing campus service projects, like helping out at the Chi Omega Halloween Carnival where students could take their children trick-or-treating,” she said.
ASUSU President Steve Palmer said, “Currently [ASUSU’s] entire budget is a combination of revenue and student fees. The revenue we generate goes right back into our fixed costs.”
Revenue comes chiefly from the Howl and Homecoming, Palmer said. But ASUSU also is over the Capital and Support Fund, which is carry-over money from the previous year.
Capital and Support is a “slush fund that we use for emergencies,” Palmer said. This year there is approximately $80,000 in that fund but Palmer said it’s very tough to get a hold of.
“It’s a meticulous process to make sure that money is being used correctly and if there is any flaw [with the fund] it is that we’ve made that account almost untouchable” Palmer said.
Palmer is currently sponsoring a bill that will restructure the way the budget is brought before ASUSU members. As it stands, the outgoing officer makes the budget for the incoming officer. Palmer feels that if the incoming and outgoing officers sit down together and plan the budget, it will give the incoming officer “more ownership.”
“I agree this is going to be a burden, but it will increase ownership and give more of a stewardship to the incumbent,” Palmer said. This bill will appear as a third reading item in next week’s ASUSU executive council meeting.