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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

ASUA approves million dollar budget

There is $1.3 million coming in and going out of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona’s budget this year.

The ASUA Senate approved this year’s budget — a budget that is projected to be completely balanced.

“”Thank you (the senate) for approving the budget. Now we can spend the money,”” said ASUA President Emily Fritze in the first senate meeting of the year yesterday.

ASUA has the largest budget of all other programs or services, more than $450,000, which fund operations such as Safe Ride, ASUA directors and administrative office costs like postage and long distance phone fees for the Women’s Resource Center and Student Health Advisory Committee. This is closely followed by salaries paid in part by ASUA funds and stipend costs for ASUA members, which totals to more than $430,000.

A further $170,00 will pay back the loans from money lost in the 2009 Last Smash Platinum Bash concert and office renovations. Both loans are four years from being completely paid.

Fritze went on to note that the university flushes accounts at the end of every year, explaining why the budget’s revenues and expenses match to the cent.

“”Any (extra) money is not just cycled into the next year,”” Fritze said.

The budget is compiled by the ASUA executives, Fritze, Executive Vice President Katherine Weingartner, and Administrative Vice President Brett Ponton, with aid from ASUA Treasurer Kenny Ho.

“”We were able to reduce a lot of our operational costs (this year),”” Ho said, noting that he and Weingartner covered their stipends with previously appropriated funds for ASUA member scholarships, in order to “”free up money for club funding.””

Club funding was reduced by $25,000 from last year’s student services fee appropriation, while ASUA’s provided amount for monetary aid to campus clubs dipped just $5,000 from last year’s total.

Sen. Scott Rising and Sen. Jeff Adams both expressed high appreciation forthe efforts of the executives in regards to the budget.

Already proposed senate projects were revisited, but the SB 1070 resolution remained off the agenda and out of the mouths of those attending the meeting.

Looking forward, Fritze plans to work with the University Activities Board when planning concerts, speeches and art shows and have them systematically incorporated within ASUA.

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