ASG Plans Budget for New Funds

The proposed $1 per student annual fee would boost ASG's budget to approximately $165,000 -- a huge increase from its current budget of $2,500.

The budget proposal, which was first discussed at Saturday's ASG meeting, includes $40,000 for a managing director, $10,000 for traveling expenses and stipends for ASG officers, who now are unpaid.

ASG President Andrew Payne said the managing director would be a full-time professional who would provide a stable figure and help with transition.

Payne said one of the goals of the proposed budget is to increase equity among different campuses, particularly for smaller campuses in outlying areas of the state.

Although the ASG has yet to set a date to vote on the proposal, student leaders have said the additional funds are necessary.

"I think the need is definitely there," said UNC-Chapel Hill Student Body President Justin Young.

"For ASG to function like other systems across the nation, we need the increase."

Public universities in some other states have fees for student government expenses. The ASG's proposal states that California students pay 50 cents per semester, Wisconsin students pay $1.35, and students in New York pay $2.

The ASG is supposed to receive $250 in dues from the student governments of each system school.

But several campuses could not afford to pay dues this year, meaning the ASG's budget, normally at $4,000, totaled just under $2,500.

To take effect, the ASG's proposal also must be approved by the UNC-system Board of Governors.

James Haltom, ASG vice president for public affairs, said he is optimistic about the proposal's chances for gaining BOG approval.

"I think we have a good chance, because if they stop this, they're stopping us from having a voice," Haltom said. "Basically, we don't have a lot of funding; a lot of the stuff that we do comes out of our pockets."

Haltom said many members are forced to pay for official business out of their own pockets because the majority of the ASG's budget goes toward office supplies.

ASG members include student body presidents and delegates from all 16 UNC-system schools. Meetings take place at a different campus each month.

Young also said the travel costs associated with ASG makes attending meetings a hassle.

"It's expensive for anyone to have to travel all the way from (UNC-Wilmington) or from (Appalachian State University)," Young said.

ASG leaders said that although institutions with more students would pay more money, there would be no change in the organization's structure.

"There hasn't been any discussion about appropriating the number of votes due to school," Payne said. "I see it as the ASG represents every school."

Payne said he thinks the proposal would be the first-ever systemwide fee increase but that he thinks it is justified.

"We want everyone to participate," he said.

"We want everybody to have an equal shot at the student government."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.