The Student Senate passed two amended budgets, which included giving about $250,000 extra to Student Government Productions.
The original Activity and Service Fee budget, which was $17,588,432, was passed in 2011. Since then, fee predictions changed and money could be reallocated. The administrative fee that SG pays to UF was less than expected, Student Body Treasurer Juan Rodriguez said.
The budget also proposed to reduce funding for SG staff salaries and special events and to add to SGP and computer network support.
Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Christina Bonarrigo said the committee reviewed every line item to find which areas needed more money. She said SGP requested more funding because artist fees and venue prices increased.
Sen. Matt Pesek opposed the additional $253,522 given to SGP, which he said has not been fiscally responsible in the past.
Sen. Morgan Vollrath echoed his sentiments.
“I have not been given any specifics what this money is going to go to,” he said. “I can’t sign off on it.”
However, Sen. Lauren Verno said giving money to SGP is giving money to the students because all the events held by SGP are for the students.
Sen. Daniel Landesberg commended the bill’s authors for cutting waste in some areas of the budget. He said he found it necessary to give SGP more funding.
“Talent is very expensive these days,” he said.
The revised budget also allocated $100,000 from SG to help keep Library West open 24 hours during weekdays in the Fall and Spring semesters.
The senators unanimously passed an amended SG-funded academics budget, which lowered the Fine Arts College Council budget by $3,522.
Six performance groups that used to be funded by the college council are now funded by the School of Music, said Rodriguez.
“We were actually able to save money this year,” Bonarrigo said.
Contact Samantha Shavell atshavell@alligator.org.
