The AS Board poses on Friday, Sept. 27. Joe Addison // AS Review
By Stella Harvey
AS Fiscal Year 2021 Budget
At the Associated Students Executive Board meeting on May 13, AS Business Director Nate Jo presented an executive summary of the budgeting process and the proposed AS Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. Before the budget can be implemented for next year, it must be approved by the Finance Council, the Student Senate and the board.
Jo said Western’s administration is asking the Finance Council to plan for 5-10% fewer students next year, and therefore a comparable reduction in revenue. If there is no change in enrollment and revenue, the AS’ deficit stays at $41,376, but the Finance Council has projected what the AS’s budget will look like in case more people don’t come back to school.
If there are 5% fewer students enrolled, the AS will have a deficit of $190,581. The deficit would rise to $339,787 if enrollment reduces by 10%.
Between now and the end of the year, Jo said the AS needs to plan for each of these reduced enrollment scenarios, so that next year’s Finance Council has a plan for however enrollment looks like in the fall. Jo said if there is a significant loss of revenue for the 2021 fiscal year, in order to lower the deficit and maintain operations, the AS will have to make difficult cuts to the budget.
The 2021 fiscal year budget, the budget for next academic year, has also been reduced by $91,310 to address the expected decrease in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jo said the AS does not plan to raise its portion of the Services and Activities fee, in an attempt to keep costs as low as possible for students while still ensuring enough funding for the AS to continue operating.
The board will review and discuss the drafted AS budget at their next meeting on May 20.
During the board’s meeting on May 27, the board will vote on the budget.
Shred the Contract Resolution
Student Senator for the College of Business and Economics Michael Prostka presented a resolution that urges Western to move forward with a self-operated dining system.
Implementing a self-operated dining system requires Western to run its own dining system, rather than signing a new contract with a third-party company like Aramark Corporation, according to the resolution. Shred the Contract [STC] is a student organizing group that advocates for the end of Western’s contract with Aramark Corporation. Western currently has a contract with Aramark Corporation, which expires in 2021.
Prostka said STC expected Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Melynda Huskey to make a recommendation to President Sabah Randhawa to either sign a new contract with a third-party corporation, who would run Western’s dining system, or move to a self-operated dining system. This decision has been delayed as a result of COVID-19. This resolution seeks to remind Western’s administration what students want dining to look like, and re-open the conversation, according to Prostka.
The board will review the resolution and vote on whether to endorse it at a future board meeting.