Student Government held their first general assembly of the semester on Tuesday, where they introduced the proposed 2024-2025 budget and established platforms for the year.
The proposed budget allotted over $117,000 in total, along with multiple deductions to student government agencies that requested funds. However, all 10 agencies will have access to a $15,000 reserve fund for special projects. Luke Ruiz, the chair of the financial affairs committee, said Student Government leaders decided the budget in a five-hour meeting under the supervision of financial advisors. The assembly will reread and vote on the proposed budget next Tuesday.
“Each cut and each deduction were voted on — line item by line item — by the (Financial Affairs Committee) from what was requested,” Ruiz said during the meeting. “There was no bias per agency or individuals regarding deductions.”
Ruiz said leaders made each cut through intense research, and they created the estimates by looking at the actual costs and finding ways to save money. He said the committee provided feedback with each cut.
Dat Duong, the co-director of the Food Security Agency, a Student Government organization fighting for a zero-waste food system, said the proposed budget does not grant the agency enough money. The agency requested $2,900 for large food distributions that provide students with fresh food for free. Duong said last year’s food distribution cost $1,300 from the budget, and the food was gone within 30 minutes.
“We’re really trying to find the balance between finding that fresh produce quality while also keeping within the budget and having enough (food) to get to students,” Duong said.
Duong said West Campus lacks access to walkable, healthy and nutritious grocery stores. He said students need access to fresh food, and the agency is committed to ensuring food security.
The assembly also discussed Invest in Texas, the student lobbying platform. Jonathan Wilson, the advocacy director, said although the platform has always existed, Student Government is making an effort to highlight it after the COVID-19 pandemic caused students to forget about the platform.
“My main (goal) is Invest in Texas and making sure that Student Government has a channel to advocate for what students want on the state and local level of government,” Wilson said.
Topics discussed during the Invest in Texas portion included prioritizing water sustainability, teaching disability rights in Texas history classes, following the change in voting locations on campus and fighting against West Campus sectoring and school vouchers. The platform will continue working on these issues throughout the semester, Wilson said.
Wilson said Student Government is also in the early stages of revitalizing One Texas, where student organization leaders can come together and work collaboratively on various projects.
“I think a main point for the (president and vice president’s) platform (is) to unite people more,” Wilson said. “I think student leaders need to have more interactions and that would be what One Texas does.”
