During a closed-door meeting last night, key SGA members reached a compromise on changes to the controversial bill the legislature attached to its yearly budget and approved Wednesday, but no one present would divulge any of the proposed changes.
Members seemed optimistic about the discussed changes to the bill that increased reserve funding by $50,000, but they struck a deal not to leak any conditions of the agreement before holding a special session Monday evening. Student Government Association President Aaron Kraus said he was calling legislators to inform them of the proposal.
“You can be rest assured the primary budget will probably go through, and Mr. Kraus will check it out and be happy with it,” said Kip Edwards, academic-at-large-legislator.
“They took a straw poll, and it’s going to be unanimous,” said Vice President of Finance Alden Gross.
The contested bill from Wednesday would set the SGA’s legislative reserves at a minimum of 4 percent of its yearly $1.4 million budget, making it the second student group to be guaranteed a set level of funding. Student Entertainment Events was earmarked 17 percent of the SGA budget on April 6. Kraus said he would rather funnel more money into SEE for Art Attack than have it put into the reserves.
But even Kraus, who aimed to veto the bill if a compromise could not be met, said he thought the SGA would receive the yet-undisclosed proposal well.
“There were really representatives from every type of opinion at the meeting tonight, so I would hope that people would embrace any possible compromise that may happen,” he said. Kraus’ presidential term ends Tuesday afternoon, when President-elect Andrew Rose will take office. Kraus would have to veto the bill before then.
Scott Tsikerdanos, the University Courtyard legislator who proposed the original bill Wednesday, said he doesn’t think Kraus will veto the bill at the special SGA session scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in Room 1205 of the Cambridge Community Center. During the session, which will be open to the public, the full SGA will vote on whether to enact changes to the bill that was passed Wednesday.
“Everything went really well,” Tsikerdanos said. “The [original] amendment to the budget passed with a strong showing of support, so I think they’re going to accept this agreement that this is a good compromise.”
Meg Hatfield, a life sciences legislator, said even though the SGA only received $4,600 this year, $30,000 came back from student groups. She said student groups are always welcome to ask the SGA for more money if they need it.
“In no way, shape or form does anything we’re going to do hurt the student groups or the students,” she said. “It’s not taking from them, it’s just making it more accessible and efficient for them.”
Outlying Commuter Legislator Nick Aragon said he wasn’t sure how the legislature would respond to the proposed changes.
“Nothing’s set in stone,” he said. “On the one hand, people want to see the budget passed. On the other hand, people may want to see parts of the budget changed.”
