Budget conflict stalls approval
Tuesday, May. 6, 2008 @ 2:19 am
The student government will face an $80,000 budget deficit this month if it moves forward in hiring three new administrative positions and if the senate doesn’t change a law to pay wages out of the student government savings account.
The senate faces a paradox in deciding whether to pay the wages through the operational account, putting the government in the red, or changing a law and paying the wages through the capital account, possibly hurting their goal to save $500,000 within two years.
“This isn’t as dire as everyone is making it out to be,” said Sandra Rodriguez, director of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada. “Making the decision without proper context is the only thing that could be a problem.”
President Eli Reilly has submitted two budget proposals for each possibility so the senate can consider whether to pay for salaries out of the operational or capital accounts.
About seven years ago, ASUN leaders started planning for the time when ASUN would outgrow itself and need new staff. They collected data and planned for office space in the new student union to house future employees.
While senators argue that ASUN can’t afford the positions and does not need them now, administrators say they are needed to relieve an overworked administrative staff.
Three new administrative positions were approved by the last two senate sessions. The extra positions also went through a slew of university checkpoints ranging from the human resources department to the provost. ASUN already has the almost $200,000 in wages for the new personnel accounted for in its overall budget.
However, if those wages are taken out of the operational account like the law now requires, it puts ASUN in a deficit. The senate could amend the law and take the wages out of the capital account instead.
Some worry that by using the capital account as a crutch, it will never reach $500,000 by fiscal year 2010.
Rodriguez said bookstore profits will transfer to ASUN three times before 2010. ASUN will also receive a budget increase next year when students are charged an ASUN fee of $5 per credit instead of $4.34 per credit.
Another solution could be eliminating some or all of the administrative positions. Some senators argue that the positions aren’t necessary right now because other people are already doing those jobs.
The new administrative positions are:
-The technology coordinator would provide tech support for ASUN computers, which UNR’s Information Technology department handles now. The coordinator would also handle the info monitors, which Inkblot Promotions is in charge of. The technology coordinator would have a salary and benefits of $71,270 and would also supervise ASUN employees in Inkblot Promotions and the Web masters.
“We function fine without it,” Budget and Finance Chair Gracie Geremia said.
-The associate director of student activities would supervise the ASUN Senate, the elections commission, ASUN secretaries, the front desk staff, the assistant director of student activities and the assistant director of clubs and organizations. The position would make $74,092 in wages and benefits.
-The assistant director of clubs and organizations would supervise all employees and events having to do with clubs and organizations. The position’s salary and benefits total $59,626.
Right now, the ASUN director does most of the work outlined for the three new positions.
Rodriguez said her administrative staff sometimes works 80 to 90-hour weeks and new staff members are needed for ASUN to function more efficiently.
“My staff and I will accept whatever happens,” she said.
Geremia thinks a good solution might be for the senate to put the positions on hold. If they choose that option, they have to do so before May 26 when the search for employees stops and a candidate is chosen.
If the senate chooses to leave the salaries in the operational account, cuts will happen. In this situation, Reilly said he would break the partnership between ASUN and the Recreation and Wellness Center. Right now, ASUN receives a percentage of Lombardi pass sales and pays for intramural sports. Breaking the agreement would allow the Recreation and Wellness Center to keep Lombardi profits and pay for intramural sports, which saves ASUN about $10,000. He said he counts on paying for the rest of the deficit out of rollover money from this year and adjusting other things if necessary.
If salaries are paid out of the capital account, there will be extra money in the operational budget. Reilly wants to increase club funding by $41,000, the homecoming budget by $35,000 and programming by about $14,000. He said he would also give about $2,000 more to both The Artemisia and the Brushfire.
“I want to take the (wages) out of the capital account, so we’re showing students what’s being done with their money,” Reilly said.
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