The UW-Eau Claire finance commission has some big decisions ahead of it.
The task of allocating nearly $2.5 million in student segregated fees for the 2006-2007 school year has begun for the group, which will present its recommendations to the Student Senate next semester for official approval.
The commission will deliberate Wednesday and Thursday, as budget presentations were made during last week’s hearings.
Junior Ray French, finance commission director, said it is making sure each group is not overspending and that each budget is correct.
“We’re going to be looking to see if each group is spending money responsibly and in the best interest of the students,” he said. “We don’t evaluate how much we like them or based on their viewpoints.”
Last year’s proceedings were marked by the denial of segregated fees to The Flip Side which, after losing its appeal, eventually wound up with $403 after a full Student Senate vote.
French said he doesn’t expect any controversies to arise this year, but he added The Flip Side’s funding probably will be hotly debated again.
The Flip Side is asking for about $5,000 of student segregated fees this year, said Phil Kolas, the publication’s managing editor.
“Last year was definitely a testing period to see how we would do if we didn’t get everything we wanted,” he said. “I think it’s definitely going to go better this year than last time.”
French said each group had a right to appeal the decision at the end of November.
Student Senate is the only UW System student governing body to look at the entire budget of its university’s student health service, French said, which will total nearly $1 million.
Senate also will deliberate over Athletics’ request for more than $600,000 of student segregated fees.
The large amount of money should send a message to senators to take the process seriously, Vice President De Anna Breault said.
“Attendance is key,” she said. “No budget will be turned down due to lack of education.”