BSG breaks down budget
By Laura Luettger
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Brockport Student Government Board of Directors had much to debate at their meeting Friday, Feb. 29, including the 2008-09 budget, the upcoming spring concert and the annual Brock the Port celebration.

The main controversy surrounding the budget was the salaries for next year’s president, vice president and treasurer. On-campus representative Will Mitchell began debate over the budget by stating that he did not agree with the salaries, but no motion was made to reduce them.

“My feeling about the executive salaries is that the executives make a lot of money, and I think the money would be better spent toward programming and other events to benefit all the students,” Mitchell said.

Cultural Clubs representative Michelle Ford suggested that whoever wins the positions next year donate money from their salaries back to other departments within BSG, such as programming.

Off-campus representative Bill Keating countered that the actual hours the president, vice president and treasurer put in to their jobs is well over 15, which is the required number of office hours for any of the three positions.

BSG President Darnell Pierce attended the SUNY Day conference in Albany with Keating and BSG Treasurer Kyle Amendola, Feb. 25 and 26. They figured out that by working almost 40 hours per week, he, Vice President Franklin and Amendola are all making well under minimum wage.

The salaries for each position are currently $10,000 for the president and $8,000 for both the vice president and treasurer.

“We run a business, and when you break it down hourly, we’re underpaid,” Pierce said. “I’m not complaining. I love the job I do and if it was cut I’d still be here.”

The board also discussed the raise given to the BSG administrative officers every year. Ford suggested capping the salaries at $50,000 per year. The secretaries in the BSG offices are currently paid up to $47,162 each. This does not include health care benefits, but they do receive parking permits from BSG, “as a common courtesy,” said Amendola.

Most of the rest of the debate on the budget was spent on deciding how to define where exactly money should be spent next year. The board decided to set aside at least $30,000 specifically for lectures within programming to ensure a range of activities with next year’s administration. They also set aside money for renovations to the Gallery Lounge and Gameroom.

The budget for next year will not be finalized until it is approved by President Halstead. BSG does not expect it to be passed until April 11.

Pierce began the president’s report by announcing that parking fees for the 2008-09 year are rising. The price of parking permits will increase to $113.40, an increase of $5. This increase is to accomodate for future plans for parking services and recent additions, such as lot D1 on Holley Street.

A statement from BASC read, “Parking Services is a self-supporting operation, receiving 100 percent of its revenue from parking fees and fines. For the past six years we’ve not increased our parking fees, but our expenses have continued to rise due to many reasons, including construction of new lots, salary increases, fringe benefit costs and inflation. We’ve increased the number of parking spaces on campus and improved the conditions of our existing lots thereby increasing our operational expenses, while the number of parkers (equating to fee revenue) has remained the same. As a result of our overall increase in expenses, we are proposing a $5 increase in the parking registration fee for 2008-09.”

Pierce suggested the board get feedback from the students about their feelings on the increased prices.

Pierce also detailed the plans the Brock the Port committee has been working on for the celebration.
The committee is looking at either Main Street or the parking lot behind Chase Bank for the event, which should be scheduled from 4 to 9 p.m. May 9.

While the event will be open to the public, BSG is planning on charging a $5 for community members, with a $2-3 charge for any child under the age of 5. Students’ admissions will be free.

As far as entertainment is concerned, the committee has discussed having a variety of smaller groups, allotting a one hour time slot per performer. The committee will meet again Wednesday, March 5 to discuss the event further.

Pierce then discussed the bid BSG has placed with performer Flo Rida for the spring concert. The concert will be held in the ice arena in Tuttle North either April 27 or 17.

In other business:
BSG has scheduled their April 11 meeting to be held in the MetroCenter at 4:30 p.m.

The board voted to hold off accepting the Human Society as a service club until they have received a copy of the constitution.

The board voted to hold off on moving the Resonance club up to Class I status until the next meeting when a representative could be present.

The following clubs were dropped completely from recognition: Arts for Children, College Libertarians, Computer Science and Math Club.

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