ASUN stresses over cash

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - 1:40 AM

Student services like publications, programming and clubs might be slighted next year because the Associated Students of the University of Nevada faces an almost $80,000 budget deficit.

The deficit stems from last year’s student government officials giving money to programs and new positions because they anticipated a budget increase for next year. Although ASUN will receive an increase next year, it is $200,000 less than expected, officials said.

ASUN expected to get an increase in student fee revenue from $3.34 to $5 per undergraduate credit, but student fees only increased to $4.34 per credit. The senate recommended the Board of Regents allow the $5 increase. The regents opted not to implement it until the 2009-2010 school year, causing problems with the projected budget to pay for the coming year’s activities.

ASUN works on two budgets: the capital account and the operational account. The capital account is made up of ASUN Bookstore profits and is supposed to pay for emergencies and big projects. The operational budget is made up of student fees and pays for services including Campus Escort, clubs, homecoming and publications.

Salaries for ASUN employees including senators, programmers, the president and ASUN administrators must be taken out of the operational account for the first time, according to a new law passed by the 2007-2008 senate. The salaries cause the operational account’s deficit in the projected budget. If the senate changes the law and allows the salaries to be paid out of the capital account, there will be no cuts from student programs and services, President Eli Reilly said.

He said if the salaries can be paid out of the capital account and there are no cuts, he wants to double or triple the homecoming budget. Reilly submitted next year’s projected budget â€“ the one former Sen. Sean McDonald wrote last senate session â€“ to the senate last week.

“If it was a class, it would be plagiarism,”Speaker of the Senate Priscilla Acosta said.

Although Reilly presented the budget on time, he did not submit a summary or a plan for how to deal with the money shortage.

Acosta said she understood Reilly’s time constraints but felt like he was making excuses.

“It’s absolutely unrealistic,”said Reilly, who was mandated by a new law to propose a budget one week after being sworn into office. “Even if my whole job was ASUN – it’s still unrealistic.â€

For an accurate budget plan, Reilly has to talk to all departments and services like programming, clubs, legal services, Campus Escort and the four publications.

ASUN Vice President Michael Cabrera agreed it was not enough time to plan the budget.

Reilly said he will give the budget and finance committee a better estimate of the budget at its meeting Friday.

“I believe if as long as we get a budget presented by Friday then we will be able to sufficiently conduct business,”said Gracie Geremia, chair of the budget and finance committee. “It’s not enough time. I understand where he’s coming from.â€

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9 Responses to “ASUN stresses over cash”

Corinna says: April 29th, 2008 at 9:47 am

I wonder if I’m the only one who notices that Eli has time to pick out executive roles for all his pals (selected before he was inaugurated), but no time to work on a budget.

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Timothy Whitney says: April 29th, 2008 at 10:37 am

It is obvious that there is a price for Eli’s head on a plate by the way this article is written. I want to know how much you are getting to almost slander his name every week. I don’t know him and I don’t want to know him but gosh, I think this is ridicules.
The entire article puts his name in the trash, until of course you got opinions of the matter from the people who his decisions affect. The chair of the budget and finance committee and the V.P., though they are probably supporters of Eli, even agree that it is not enough time. I agree and any sane individual that has classes would agree that a budget like that is not possible in a week. Hello, finals are just around the corner.
What I like about the Nevada Sagebrush is you do puff pieces like this, call them “News” when in fact this is an easily identifiable opinion and then bury the fact that there is a murderer/rapist that preys on young college women still on the loose.
Just a thought
Timothy whitney

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Corinna Cohn says: April 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am

Timothy,

I am a long-time critic of the Sagebrush, and an occasional target for catty comments (you know who you are). That said, I see nothing in this article which seems biased. In fact, both points of view are represented. The reporter is not injecting opinion in this piece. Your only valid argument is that the bias was caused by the editorial decision to include this piece. Personally, I’d prefer to see more reporting about my student government rather than having events like this swept under the rug.

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Weston Lippia says: April 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

This piece hardly has anything indicative of any bias intertwined. It’s quite simply a factual piece…I believe media can be QUITE biased and QUITE irresponsible, however this is not a case thereof.

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Gregory Green says: April 29th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

One thing not mentioned is that the statute quoted above also sets a minimum requirement for the ASUN Capital Account (think of it as a savings account for ASUN). If salaries are taken out of the Capital Account (as they have been), it will not meet the minimum requirement set by the statute. The account will be the lowest it has been in years. There are many reasons for this- like outfitting a new union- nevertheless, it is the current situation.

No matter where you take the money from ASUN has a projected deficit, and it’s not because we expected $5.00 next year. This was never promised nor reasonably expected.

The only responsible thing to do is to lay off the spending. It happens.

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David says: April 29th, 2008 at 10:59 pm

Perhaps the $250,000 in new administrative faculty positions has something to do with it. What is it now, 6 admin faculty members to run the student government. Makes sense to me.

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yourmom says: April 30th, 2008 at 9:14 am

If this article was slanted it would probably say something like Eli had a month and a half to make minor changes to the budget and present it from the time he was elected.

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Anon. says: April 30th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

We all forget that being ASUN President is Hard Work™. I mean, you at least have to look busy for the $8,800 the students pay him to do his job.

First you have to get your priorities in order. Apparently getting “shit off of my lawn”ranks high.

Then, you have to do some more Hard Work™ by giving choice appointments to your fraternity brothers, close friends, and campaign staff. Oh, don’t bother working too hard, but you should allow for open applications for a few of the positions to pay lip service to accountability and transparency.

Next step is to give those choice appointees illegal orders to perform executive functions without being lawfully appointed. You know you’ve screwed up when Sean McDonald files not just one, but two lawsuits against you.

If you don’t do too much Hard Work™, you might even have time to haze a freshman or two.

Budget plans, laws, constitutions, government? Pshaw! Nothing to be concerned with. As you can see, a president must be discriminating with how he spends his time. How to spend $1.7 million really doesn’t rank up there. (Although, I’m sure Sigma Nu could use a new HDTV or something.)

Remember, the key to being a successful ASUN President is getting the Association to do more for your small group of friends, while doing none of the work. It’s the reverse of JFK’s “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” ideology.

So was this article biased? Nope. In fact, I’d dare say it let Mr. Reilly off easy.

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Gracie Geremia says: May 1st, 2008 at 10:02 pm

I believe this article was very unbiased, however, there are some issues that have not been discussed.

I would like to hear more opinions from students on where they think the money should go. I agree with quite a few comments below, as the budget and finance committe, myself, and the executive board will be looking for possible alternatives to make the budget meet the priorities and wants of the students. If you would like a better understanding on the budget or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact me at senatorGeremia@asun.unr.edu.