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The university expects lower enrollment rates next year, as the economic downturn continues to affect students. This has forced Student Government to adjust its budget.
Vice President of Financial Affairs Justin Labonte presented the Student Government budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 during the April 7 General Student Senate meeting. Labonte geared the budget toward the university’s expectation of fewer students enrolling in the 2009-2010 school year. This decrease is projected to be almost 900 fewer students and a $76,000 reduction in revenue for Student Government.
“I’m being very conservative this year, because I want us to be prepared for the worst case scenario,” Labonte said.
Labonte also made modifications to the budget to coincide with the rise in the cost of living. The Consumer Price Index, the measure of the average price of consumer services and goods, jumped to 4.9 percent for food in February 2009, which has trickled down to affect the cost of living.
The compensation portion, which accounts for office salaries, increased contractual raises for several nonstudent staff members working in the office.
“There’s nothing I can do about compensation,” Labonte said, “It’s the law.”
Student Entertainment received a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year’s budget, giving Student Entertainment $16,500, which Labonte said compensates for the increasing costs of providing entertainment.
“This budget is very similar to last year’s budget except for the standard increases in compensation and Student Entertainment,” Labonte said.
The Student Government- funded boards are composed of: the Interfraternity Council, the Off-Campus Board, the Panhellenic Council, Residents On Campus and the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. The 2009-2010 budget cut these organizations’ funding by $14,000 Labonte said.
The ROC movie channel was cut earlier in the school year, and the money previously allocated to the organization, $9,000, helped absorb some of the shock the student government boards had cut from their budget.
Labonte’s conservative projections will leave senate in a better position than the previous year.
Sen. Nate Wildes said underestimating the amount of students that will enroll will help the senate in the financial long-term.
Related Posts:- UM cuts funding to Orono (April 25, 2002)
- Funding cuts will cause complications (February 28, 2008)
- Governor Baldacci cuts higher education funding (January 22, 2009)
- System faces $7.5 million of potential budget cuts (November 5, 2009)
- State senator addresses budget cuts (February 18, 2002)
