During their weekly Wednesday night meeting, the Associated Students of Colorado State University discussed new business and voted on bills from old business, including passing next academic year’s final student fee package. ASCSU’s budget for next year was also discussed.

2019-20 student fee package 

In the first of two votes to approve the next academic year’s student fees, the Senate passed the bill with a 37-0-0 vote.  

Vice President Kevin Sullivan presented the bill at the last session. At the meeting, Sullivan said that the package met the administration’s goal of remaining beneath a 3% increase.

“Why does 3% matter?” Sullivan said. “Well, there was a goal that was set in order to keep up with rising costs. With inflation, you’re going to see an increase in student fees and with tuition frozen it was really important that student fees did not go up by a large amount.”

Sullivan said that if you look at the state average of student fee increases, many are above 3%.

“Three percent — extremely proud of it,” Sullivan said.

Proposed student fees for 2019-2020 academic year

• ASCSU – $24.45 (no change)
• Athletics – $114.92 (no change)
• CSU Health Medical Network – $201.59 (no change)
• CSU Health Network (Counseling) – $52.15 (Increase of $3.90)
• UFFAB – $311.25 (no change)
• UTFAB – $25 (no change)
• Student Disability Center – $2.72
• UCA – $15.90 (increase of $0.29)
• Student Resolution Center – $7.52 (increase of $0.18)
• LSC – $192.62 (increase of $5.34)
• Ram Events – $9.83 (increase of $0.06)
• SLICE – $19.18 (increase of $0.52)
• Campus Recreation – $129.31 (increase of $3.50)
• Career Center – $34.02 (Increase of $1.47)
• Student Legal Services – $8.23 (Increase of $0.74)
• Ram Ride – $6.85 (Increase of $0.78)
• Off-Campus Life – $6.51 (Increase of $0.97)
• WGAC (Interpersonal Violence) – $6.51 (Increase of $1.39)
• ALVS – $19.92 (Increase of $12.43)
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Sullivan said the vote was to ensure proper process is followed.

Areas seeing fee increases for next year will be counseling services from the Health Network, Student Resolution Center, Lory Student Center, Ram Events, SLICE, Campus Recreation, Career Center, Student Legal Centers, Ram Ride, Off-Campus Life, Interpersonal Violence and Adult Learner and Veteran Services.

The biggest increase will be coming from Adult Learner and Veteran Services to fund remodeling to accommodate the high demand of participants.

Proposed 2019-20 Budget

According to the ASCSU Account Status Report sent in the Senate’s weekly email, the total allocated budget for ASCSU would be $1,499,738.

President-elect Ben Amundson presented a proposal for ASCSU’s 2019-20 budget that was sent to the Budgetary Affairs Committee and will require two votes to pass. 

The bill, written by Amundson and Vice President-elect Alexandra Farias, discussed the next academic year’s budget for ASCSU.

“We have a fund balance that we’re diving into,” Amundson said. “So, we have a little extra money. But in the coming year, unless we start to be more conservative with our money and those contracts, the president will have to propose a fee increase in order to sustain us.”

Amundson said the new budget had to cut roughly 24% of spending.

“Actually, I should say this — we cut the budget by 24%,” Amundson said. “Tons of different things were cut.”

For example, Amundson said that the marketing department kept its given $25,000 because that entire amount was used this year. On the other hand, the finance department’s $400 was cut to $200 to match what was spent this year.

“If you think something needs more money, please come to me before the second vote of this bill,” Amundson said. “This isn’t set in stone. This is my first proposal and the idea of it is to cut costs because we need to save money.”

Amundson said the Senate has been budgeted $50,000 for next year.

“Every penny that rolls over, I’ve promised to give to the Senate as well,” Amundson said. “You all have that rollover fund so if you spend it all, you will get $50,000 next year and that’s it. That’s just based on basic numbers. … Any money you don’t spend will roll over.”

Amundson said that spending it all the way down will affect the next Senate.

“This was a unique year where the previous years weren’t spending and it rolled up,” Amundson said. “If you spend it all the way down, you’re just left with $50,000 with this next year.”

Charlotte Lang can be reached news@collegian.com or on Twitter @ChartrickWrites.