The Student Services Finance Committee heard the Associated Students of Madison transportation budget at its meeting Monday, which includes funding for campus buses and student bus passes.
The proposed budget is $4,292,000 for the 2013-’14 fiscal year, compared to $4,219,700 for last year’s budget.
According to Transportation Services representatives, student use of transportation services has steadily increased over the past years. However, ridership decreased this year after two big changes to transportation routes on campus: the discontinuation of the 85 route and temporary changes in the 81 route.
SSFC Chair Ellie Bruecker said she is satisfied with the budget, but hopes transportation costs do not continue to rise for students.
“I’m not super thrilled about the increase for the same amount of services,” Bruecker said. “But I think it’s important to maintain service since last year we cut service.”
Before the current year’s budget, SAFEcab, a night-time cab service, was an additional cost in the budget.
SSFC will vote on the transportation budget at its meeting Thursday.
SSFC is also currently rewriting its bylaws to clear up some internal discrepancies in funding for student organizations.
Bruecker said the changes would have far-reaching consequences for groups on campus.
“This is going to be pretty complete reformation of the way student organizations are funded on campus,” Bruecker said.
SSFC must pass the proposed bylaw changes, at which point the proposal would move to the Student Council to be passed by a two-thirds vote.
