Budget Revision [Suggestions]

By Senator Yu

Co-sponsored by Senator Chang, Senator Hellman, Senator Simpson

Overview - what to keep in mind

• Budgets have been inflated for the past 3 years due to COVID-19
• Realistically, could not sustain the same $ amount in the future

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Philosophies:

• Highest consideration for budgets goes to offices that address students’ needs most directly (basic needs, health, legal, etc.)
• Limit the amount of money spent on us (AS) vs the student body
• Aim to spend money that will maximize benefit to students while being cost-effective

Regarding staff budgets

From the Senate’s Standing Rules: https://as.ucsd.edu/_files/governingdocs/ASUCSD%20Standing%20Rules_updated04.17.2024.pdf

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Currently, some offices are in violation of the Standing Rules for Section 4.4.

There may or may not be additional violations regarding stipend levels, such as positions receiving Level 3 but not doing internal AND external operations.

Overall Finances if Proposed Changes Made

Budget from last week’s meeting

Deficit: -$672,584.64 → -$254,165.64

*Expected to be lower once stipends are adjusted.

Office by Office Considerations

Office of the President

Proposed changes:

• Reduced all categories to be more in line with 23-24
• Reduced “New York Times” by half (if not completely remove)
• Unlikely to reach seat cap (100%) and therefore necessitate an increase in subscription price

$102,228 → $44,464

Office of College Affairs

Proposed changes:

• Remove College Council Collaborative Funds entirely
• Redundant/phasing out
• Cut “College Council Project/Initiative Fund”
• Could shift categories to general unallocated for more flexibility

$129,200 → $86,200

Purpose of office: “Connecting the UCSD colleges and community as one”

Office of Food and Housing Resources &

Office of Health and Well-Being

No cuts

Office of Environmental Justice Affairs

Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Office of Transportation and Transformation

No cuts

$69,500 → $61,500

$150,000 → $127,500

Office of the Executive Vice President

Proposed changes:

• Reallocated funds from “Transfer Fund” to “Projects and Initiatives”

$22,100 → $21,600

Office of the External Affairs

No cuts

$221,000 → $140,875

Office of Local Affairs

Office of Academic Affairs

Proposed changes:

• Doubled “Operating and Supplies”, cut leadership development ~half

$20,000 → $19,500

$55,500 → $50,250

No cuts

Office of Finance and Resources

Office of Student Organizations

$7,500 → $2,000

$598,200 → $583,200

Office of Enterprises and Services

$103,579.93 → $101,579.93

Proposed changes:

• Cut “Projects and Initiatives” by $2000
• Overlap with “Operating and Supplies”

• Generates revenue, but goes into AS overall (not directly back to the office)

Why is $20-40k needed every year for equipment?

Office of Communications

Proposed changes:

• Reduced all categories to be more in line with 23-24 (and previous years)
• Removed redundant staff positions

$197,500 → $115,750

Office of Concert and Events

$1,700,000 → $1,695,700

Office of Spirit and Athletics

Proposed changes:

• Cut budget to be more in line with 23-24 but is still overall higher ($117,075.00)
• Programming budget increased

$145,945 → $126,570

Office of Personnel Affairs

How much of this has been spent already?

No cuts

Proposed:

$70,000 → $55,000

Thank you for your time.