The AS Student Senate during their meeting on Friday, Nov. 22. Joe Addison // AS Review
By Stella Harvey
AS Fiscal Year 2021 Budget
During the Associated Students Student Senate meeting on May 12, Nate Jo, AS business director, presented the AS Fiscal Year 2021 Budget and an executive summary of the budgeting process. The senate, Executive Board and Finance Council must review and approve the budget so it can be implemented next year.
Western’s administration has asked the Finance Council to plan for a 5-10% reduction in enrollment, and revenue, according to Jo. The AS’ deficit will remain $41,376 if there is no reduction in revenue, but will rise significantly if fewer students return in the fall.
The AS deficit will reach $190,581 if there is a 5% reduction in enrollment. If enrollment dips by 10%, the deficit will rise to $339,787.
Between now and the end of the year, the AS will plan for each of these scenarios so next year’s Finance Council has multiple plans depending on what enrollment will look like in the fall, according to Jo. If there is a significant loss of revenue for the 2021 fiscal year, Jo said the AS will have to make difficult cuts to the budget.
Jo said the Finance Council’s work to reduce the Services and Activities fee for spring quarter, in response to COVID-19, forced the council to postpone presenting next year’s proposed budget. The 2021 fiscal year budget has also already been reduced by $91,310 to address the expected decrease in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an attempt to keep costs as low as possible for students while also receiving enough funding for the AS to continue operating, the AS does not plan to raise its portion of the Services and Activities fee, according to Jo.
Jo said the senate will have more time to discuss the AS budget draft at next week’s meeting. During their meeting on May 26, the senate will vote on the budget.
Shred the Contract Resolution
Michael Prostka for the College of Business and Economics presented a resolution that asks Western to move forward with a self-operated dining system, rather than signing a new contract with a third party company like Aramark Corporation.
Implementing a self-operated dining system requires Western to run its own dining system, according to the resolution. Prostka said Shred the Contract [STC] is a student organizing group that advocates ending Western’s contract with Aramark Corporation. 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 or move to a self-operated dining system, according to Prostka. However, due to COVID-19, Prostka said this decision has been delayed. This resolution is an effort to re-open the conversation and remind the administration what students want dining to look like at Western, Prostka said. Western’s current contract with Aramark Corporationexpires in 2021.
At a future meeting, the senate will review the resolution again and vote on endorsing it.