Every year, the Associated Students of Olympic College Executive Council meets to decide what their budget request for the next school year will be. Historically, the annual request is for an increase in funding, and this year is no different.
Toni Hartsfield, director of Student Programs and Leadership Development, said Student Services gets a 6 percent increase in funding next year, of which 8 percent is allocated for ASOC.
This year the ASOC spent $90,000, not including moneys awarded above and beyond what was budgeted for the year. Next year they get $20,000 more, totaling $110,000.
“The budget process is a lengthy process,” ASOC Vice President of Communications Thelma Corbin said. “We look at what’s fair for everyone and that everything is going to benefit all students on campus.”
Of all the budgeted ASOC entities, club funds received the highest budget allocation increase. Next year, club funds get $22,000, a 36 percent increase from what they got this year.
Approval for the large club fund increase was due to the high rate of student involvement in ASOC clubs this year. The rate of involvement is deduced from the amount of money clubs request at regular club congresses.
This year, the club fund went more than $8,000 in the negative, proving it needs more funding to keep a balanced budget.
“A lot of students would not be able to pay and I wouldn’t want to restrain any student from participating in the club,” said Himesh Bhargo, ASOC vice president of judicial affairs, explaining his support of the Clay Club’s $1,000 fund request at an April Club Congress session.
Next year ASOC essentially gets a raise, being allocated a total of $110,000 spread throughout the three campuses and the club fund. While the two satellite campuses continue to be budgeted $8,000 for campus events at the discretion of their ASOC vice presidents, Bremerton campus was budgeted nearly $12,000 more than the current year, a 17 percent increase.
Corbin said part of that extra amount would be used to help install large flat-screen televisions in several high-traffic areas of the main campus, as well as one for both Poulsbo and Shelton’s campuses.
“We looked at what was spent, what was needed and at any projects coming up,” Corbin said, referring to the process ASOC used to determine what budget to request for next year.
Although the total ASOC operating budget has increased nearly 36 percent over two fiscal years, the budget is only $5,000 more than 2007 levels.
“We work with what we have,” Hartsfield said, alluding to the difficulty of trying to gain more funding when the college faces more than $2 million budget shortfall.
Indeed, other parts of Student Services that work closely with the ASOC were also disappointed. The student organizers didn’t gain or lose any money in their 2010 - 2011 fiscal year allocation.
“I was hoping to bring in some keynote speakers for a big, big, big event,” said student organizer David White. “But you know, we’re student organizers—we’ll make it happen.”
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