ASG’s budget released to the public

35% of the yearly funding has been dedicated to this remote semester

Tyler Pugmire / News Editor / The USD Vista

Associated Student Government publicly released their budget on Wednesday Sept. 30 to their website. This version of the budget is less comprehensive than the one that is officially voted on by ASG senators and viewed at the meetings. 

This budget was only voted on by executive members of ASG (President, Vice President, Speaker of the Senate, Chief of Staff, Chief Justice, Public Relations Chair, and Finance Chair). Typically, the budget is voted on by all elected members of ASG. The reasoning was in order to streamline the process and maintain efficiency as senators were not elected until a few weeks into the semester. 

Being in a global pandemic has shifted the focus on ASG’s $1,318,704 total budget that is funded by the Student Activity Fund — this amounts to $125 per semester for each student taking twelve units or more, which is included whether or not classes are remote or if students are living off campus. ASG’s budget is also funded partially by revenue from an unspecified source and decreased from last year’s $1,438,777. The total for the fall budget came out to $466,674.50; around 35% of total funds available for the year. 

Comparing last year to this year, there has been a significant reduction in services provided and voted on. President Joey Abeyta decided to focus on Olé Weekend and welcome week — both of which were held remotely this year. The total for those two events was $36,000, it is unclear whether or not that total was spent.

The Chief of Staff only dedicated $200 to exec team bonding, a reduction from $500 last year. There was also no money dedicated to the Holiday Party or ASG Banquet in comparison to previous years. 

Torero Program Board was granted $225,000 but either has no specific allocations or it was not completely filled out, because they have no exact funding amounts. 

An item that is missing from the budget — the item that President Joey Abeyta claimed to be his first goal if elected — is that of the College Readership Program, which was defunded last year to save $12,000, less than 1% of ASG’s budget. The College Readership Program allows access for USD students to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the San Diego Union Tribune. 

This move has been criticized by some, such as junior Shane Wilson. 

“It sucks that they didn’t fund CRP, it seems like during an election year and a global pandemic that this would be the best time to have access to news that isn’t just what I see on Twitter,” Wilson said.  

For the centers and programs that ASG sponsors, there was nearly a $20,000 increase in spending from last fall to now, coming from increases in the budget for student activities and involvement, and deciding to fund all of club sports in the fall semester.

While those two programs saw increases in funding, there was a more than 80% decrease in funding for the Women’s Commons from last spring. There was also less funding received by the Black Student Resource Center, the Center for Health and Wellness Promotion, and the Mulvaney Center for Community Awareness and Social Action. 

Not included in the budget total, was the $100,000 COVID-19 fund for students in need. Finance Chair Cesar Manzo has not responded when asked about the update on the COVID-19 fund.