Student Services Finance Committee unanimously approved the Associated Students of Madison’s 2016 fiscal year budget Thursday, with the overall segregated fee allocation totaling $1,398,654.74.
Debate on the budget focused largely on the addition of a Campus Food Pantry program, which would aim to provide food to students in need by means of a student-run, volunteer-based operation.
The pantry initiative is one that stems from a similar program at UW-Stevens Point and aims to serve a portion of campus who are not necessarily able to afford food, according to ASM Chair Genevieve Carter and Vice Chair Derek Field who both initially proposed the program at Student Council.
Brooke Evans, a homeless student, advocated for the implementation of the program, saying there is a population of students who would greatly benefit from the service that has not historically been addressed on a student level.
“I’m here because I firmly believe it’s hard for people to care about what they don’t see,” Evans said. “I want to express how important this proposal is; change starts with you.”
The program proposed $3,000 in operating expenses, as well as $19,115.20 total salary allotment to fund two student coordinators. The two 20 hours-a-week positions would focus on the startup of the program set to be housed in the Student Activity Center, as outlined in the budget proposal.
ASM Secretary Alexander Schultz also spoke on behalf of the program, saying the focus should not lie on the monetary cost, but rather the social implications of creating such a service on campus for students.
While SSFC members voiced their support of the plan, discussion centered on ensuring the numbers established for the plan would be fiscally responsible, especially with no setup having been done as of yet.
Various members suggested the breakdown of how many members in coordinating positions and how many hours the coordinators should work per week could use future reconsideration, but the group ultimately left the salary line at the proposed $19,115.20.
Committee members also approved the lowering of the Green Fund allocation, from $80,000 to $50,000. Sustainability Chair Kyla Kaplan said while she feels the initiative aimed at instilling environmental projects on campus has been successful, she believes lowering the fund is the fiscally responsible decision while the Sustainability Committee reevaluates areas of the bylaws.
The final approved internal budget resulted in a $1,860 decrease from the Council’s proposed figure and a $160,280.07 increase from ASM’s 2013-’14 actual operating budget. The document will now head back to Student Council next week for final approval.
SSFC also approved the 2015-’16 operating budget for the Student Leadership Program.
SLP is a student group that aims to foster leadership in both students and student groups through educational opportunities and workshops, according to the group’s website.
After minor adjustments to decrease position stipends and correct miscalculations, members approved the overall budget unanimously at $54,706.40.
