Student fees and executive officer stipends will increase if the currently proposed ASI budget for next year passes.

ASI’s Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by presidential candidate Peter Ucovich, submitted a budget to the ASI Board of Directors at its April 23 meeting, which will increase the student activity fees 1.6 percent to $111 per semester.

Currently, all CSUS students pay $109 per semester to fund the bulk of ASI’s yearly operating budget. Programs funded from that budget include the Children’s Center, the Aquatic Center and Peak Adventures.

Also at the April 23 meeting, the board passed a resolution increasing the stipends for the top four student positions in ASI.

Currently, President Eric Guerra receives a monthly stipend of $840. The three other executive positions – Executive Vice President, Vice President of Finance and Vice President of University Affairs – receive a monthly stipend of $800. Each of the nine directors receive $300 per month.

Last year, the Stipend Review Committee proposed a $150 per month raise across the board. What eventually resulted was a $100 per month increase for just the nine directors and no increase for the executive officers.

Eric Guerra, who served on this year’s Stipend Review Committee, authored the recommendation from the committee, which passed without opposition. Members of the Board who were running for office for next year were not allowed to participate in the vote.

The original committee recommendation called only for increases to the President and Executive Vice President. The proposal called for a $70 per month increase for the President and a $50 per month increase for the Executive Vice President.

Postbaccalaureate Director Mohamed Hamada was concerned with separating the pay rates for the vice presidents. Hamada stressed the importance of the VP of Finance and VP of University Affairs jobs and proposed a $50 per month increase for all three vice presidents.

The amendment was approved unanimously along with the $70 increase for the President.

Ucovich explained the student fee increase as related to a consumer price index approved via student referendum several years ago. The student fees will continue to rise until the policy is changed via another referendum, which Ucovich said would be a “tricky battle.”

Luke Wood, the current Executive Vice President and candidate for VP of Finance, said at the ASI election debate Monday that he does not support ASI fee increases.

“I don’t think we should be taking any more money from the students,” Wood said.

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