Monday, 8/4/97 Proposed USAC pay raise controversial BUDGET:
Critics question decorum, timing, fiscal backing; council’s power
to approve budget stymied
By Frances Lee Daily Bruin Senior Staff The undergraduate
student council (USAC) considered giving themselves a pay increase
last Tuesday, spurring heated discussion among members as to the
appropriateness, timeliness and fiscal soundness of the matter.
Their inability to reach a decision at last week’s meeting has
stalled approval of the USAC budget – which was supposed to go into
effect August 1 – delaying access to funds for some student groups
and commissions. The final budget hinges on the council’s decision
to approve or reject the finance committee guidelines, passed at
the end of last year. The committee’s recommended revisions suggest
across-the-board pay increases for everyone in student government
who currently receives a stipend, including elected and appointed
officers, their assistants and officers of student advocacy groups
(SAGs). Increases range from $25 to $175. Finance Committee Chair
Robert Rhoan justified the recommendations, noting that stipend
rates have not changed in 10 years – making UCLA’s one of the
lowest-paid student governments – and that fairer compensation
would recognize the amount of work done by student government.
Rhoan also noted that students who work in government often don’t
have time for another job, and an increase was needed to compensate
them for lost wages. Academic Affairs Commissioner Max Espinoza ,
who is in favor of the proposal, made a motion to approve the
revised guidelines, but a two-hour discussion ensued before the
vote. The council adjourned without voting on the issue after
General Representative Joe Medico left the meeting, breaking
quorum. The topic generated much discussion among council members
because the pay increases were being considered during the summer,
when most students are not on campus to voice their opinions.
Further complicating the situation was the absence of the top three
executives, who could not attend because of various reasons. USAC
advisor Lyle Timmerman and student union and student support
services director Jerry Mann both advised against taking such an
action over the summer, advising to wait until the president
returned to make a decision. "It’s unseemly for elected officials
to vote for a pay increase (for themselves)," Timmerman said. "I
urge you to put off (making the decision) until fall, or at least
until the president is here." Mann also recommended postponing
action. "I don’t debate the necessity of increased stipends," he
said, agreeing that the positions were underpaid. "I object to the
timing." Cultural Affairs Commissioner Mike Hamilton also raised
questions as to where the money was coming from, noting that there
had been budget cuts in some of the offices. The suggested pay
increases would add an additional $11,475 in expenses to the USAC
budget. Rhoan stressed that the pay increase would not affect the
budgets of any student groups or offices. "The majority of the
money is coming from administrative overhead, not from student
group budgets," he said. ‘Administrative overhead’ includes
contributions to the University of California Students Association
(UCSA), the Election Board and the UCSA’s secretary’s office.
Feasible? Yes. Practical? Not really, according to Mann.
Traditionally, those three accounts are under-funded during the
budget process, Mann said, with all surplus funds used to augment
those three items. The rest of the surplus is used for programming,
travel, conferences and supplies. "There’s an assumption there will
be a surplus," Mann told the council. "What you’re doing, there’s
no impact now. But you’re borrowing against future money received.
There is no free pot of money. "There’s no increase in income, and
no decrease in expenses. The $11,000 will come out of your budgets
somewhere down the line," he warned. Community Services
Commissioner Abi Karlin-Reznick suggested an "altruistic"
alternative: approving the pay increase for next year’s council,
rather than this year’s group of officers. "I don’t know how
comfortable I would feel raising my stipend," she said. Of bigger
concern to Reznick, however, was the debate might delay approval of
the budget, which could damage her office’s ability to access
necessary funds. Timmerman also pointed out that student government
often criticized the university for making decisions during the
summer, but that the council was doing the same thing. Espinoza
countered, saying that when administrators give themselves a raise,
students are affected through increased fees. Student government
does not increase fees, he said. Currently, the president receives
a stipend of $275, while the other elected officials get $175 and
SAG presidents are paid $100. If the guidelines are approved by the
council, all elected officers and SAG presidents will receive $275.
Some students were surprised to discover that USAC members received
stipends at all. Some felt that "as long as there was money for
it," the raise was not an issue, but others felt differently. Hyun
Lee, who graduated last year, doesn’t think the council should get
a pay raise. "I haven’t seen any hands-on benefits," Lee said. "Not
as much as we expected from Students First!." Nancy Sandoval, a
fourth-year psychology student, doesn’t feel strongly one way or
the other, but noted "I only see them (USAC) around election time."
"I don’t debate the necessity of increased stipends … I object to
the timing." Jerry Mann Student support services director Previous
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