UCSU budget unveiling

Finance Board made their yearly budget recommendations to the UCSU Legislative Council, including various budget increases to cost centers on campus.

Proposed recommendations included increases to Wardenburg Health Center, the Recreation Center, Program Council and the Women’s Resource Center.

Rodrigo Gonzalez, a senior chemical and biological engineering major and the UCSU Finance Board Chair, said that the Finance Board worked closely with centers’ directors to rework budgets due to economic restraints.

“The Finance Board asks the directors to really examine the budgets that they are currently working with and to make budgetary changes to realize efficiency and to make an increase in the quality of its services,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said that many centers on campus have worked diligently to be resourceful and conservative during the current economic climate.

However, many UCSU leaders are concerned about maintaining necessary funding levels for the student groups and centers on campus.

Daniel Ramos, a 23-year-old senior sociology and Spanish major and UCSU Tri-Executive, said he hopes to see adequate funding passed in the budget to support thriving student groups.

“I think our student groups need [funding] more now than ever,” Ramos said. “We are seeing an increasing number of groups on campus and an increasing number of student groups applying for funding.”

CU students will no doubt respond to the proposed budgeted enhancements and cuts differently.

Emily Mokotoff, an 18-year-old freshman communications major, said she was happy to see increased funding for some of the centers on campus.

“I think it’s great that Wardenburg will get more money because they offer a really good service,” Mokotoff said. “It’s also good that they are going to give money to the Women’s Resource Center to pay for the handbook they already required them to make.”

The budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 will continue to be discussed and will ultimately be passed by the UCSU Legislative Council.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Lauren Knobbe at [email protected].