Services and Activities Fee Committee members decided during a 10-hour meeting April 3 to make budget cuts that would allow the S&A fee to stay at $558 for the 2020-2021 school year. 

Quinton Berkompas, ASWSU president and S&A committee chair, said the committee members did not feel comfortable increasing the fee when so many students are facing financial uncertainty due to COVID-19.

There will be almost no money made from S&A fees over the summer because of the current COVID-19 situation, said Maggie McFadden, WSU Budget Office budget and policy analyst. Enrollment is expected to decrease in the fall, which will also decrease the revenue coming from the fee. 

McFadden said during the meeting a zero percent increase on the fee means requested allocations from student groups need to be cut by about 12 percent in order to avoid overspending. 

The amount of requested allocations have been higher than actual revenue since fiscal year 2016, she said. Carry forward has decreased from about $1.5 million to $221,000 in that time. 

The committee considered whether groups had other sources of funding and whether they increased the amount they requested in previous years, Berkompas said. 

Allocations

ASWSU executives requested $290,638, including $15,000 to fund a safety project that will add blue lights on campus. The committee approved a 12 percent cut to the academic year and summer session request, but approved $15,000 for the one-time request. ASWSU executives received $257,561 in total. 

ASWSU Senate requested $120,500. Committee members approved a 7.5 percent cut, giving the group $111,463.

ASWSU Senate programming requested $379,798. The group received $351,313, a 7.5 percent cut. 

Athletics had a one-time request for $600,000. The committee approved a 20 percent cut, allocating $480,000 to Athletics. The committee wrote a note to future members committing to transitioning Athletics off S&A funding by fiscal year 2026. 

Cougar Accessible Transportation Services was cut by 10%, a decrease from $84,507 to $76,056.

The Center for Civic Engagement requested $323,431 for the academic year and summer session and a one-time request of $25,200 for new vehicles. The group received a zero percent cut but was denied the one-time request. Committee members recommended the CCE utilize Motor Pool for transportation. Motor Pool provides vehicles for WSU students and staff traveling on authorized WSU business.

The WSU Children’s Center requested $404,516 and was not cut. The committee recommended that the center ensure at least 50 percent of children they service are students’ children. 

The Coalition of Women Students requested $195,000 and a one-time allocation of $20,000 for vehicles. The request was cut by five percent, leaving the group $185,250. The one-time request was denied and the committee recommended CWS use Motor Pool for transportation. 

The CUB asked for $1,841,391, including a one-time request of $75,000 to fund construction of gender-neutral restrooms. The committee approved a 12 percent cut and denied the one-time request, allocating $1,554,424 to the CUB.

Committee members wrote in a note that it “respectfully affirms the CUB’s desire to increase gender-inclusive restrooms” and recommends the CUB seek a one-time allocation in the future when there is more funding available. 

Cougar Health Services faced a 7.5 percent cut to a $307,996 request, leaving the organization $284,896.

Cougar Marching Band requested $204,000, plus a one-time request for $80,000 for new drums and trumpets. CMB’s budget was cut by 7.5 percent, leaving $188,700, plus $32,375 as a one-time allocation.

The Access Center was cut by 10 percent, receiving $27,000 of the requested $30,000.

GPSA faced a 7.5 percent cut minus an additional $5,000, dropping the requested $588,054 to $538,950.

Student Entertainment Board’s request was cut by 10 percent. SEB requested $471,808 plus a one-time request of $30,000 to cover costs associated with the Spring Fest contract. SEB received $454,627, which includes the one-time request. 

Student Involvement requested $983,323 and was cut by 7.5 percent, leaving $909,574.

The committee approved a 7.5 percent cut to Student Media’s request for $248,882, leaving $230,216. 

Transit requested $522,922 and was cut by 12 percent. The committee allocated $460,171 to Transit. 

UREC requested $1,625,761 plus a one-time request of $18,000. The one-time request was denied and the allocation cut by 12 percent, leaving $1,430,670 for UREC.

The video recording of the meeting can be watched here.

Editor’s Note: This story was written from a 10-hour-long Zoom meeting recording. The meeting was held on April 2 and The Daily Evergreen requested the recording. The Evergreen received the recording on April 8.