News

The first draft of the 2011 OUSA Budget was released last Wednesday. OUSA Finance and Services Officer James Meager said that there were no major changes within the Budget, bar the increase in student levies.

The student levy has increased from $159.64 per year to $211.88, an increase of $52.24. The new levy is adjusted for inflation, and also designed to allow OUSA to set aside an operational contingency fund of $900 000, should VSM be passed. 
   During a past Executive meeting, the Exec had voted to increase levies to safeguard against VSM. Meager chose to increase them such that OUSA has enough to continue operating in the same capacity, and to the same standard as it does now, until the end of 2012.
   The move was contentious both due to the drastic increase in the levies and the use of current OUSA member’s levies to provide for future OUSA members. General Rep Imogen Roth called the increase “hypocritical” given that OUSA’s criticism of the University’s fee increases. 
   Another significant change is that Planet Media, the company which runs Critic and Radio 1, receives a 59 percent budget increase, almost $64 000, after it again failed to break even. OUSA General Manager Steven Alexander noted that Planet Media found it difficult to sell advertising during the recession, and that if the Budget line isn’t increased Planet Media would last only a few more years.
   During the Budget-setting meeting, the Exec chose to keep the Promotions line largely the same, despite the initial proposal to raise it by around $100 000. The extra money being proposed was to cover further promotion of OUSA by gifting goodie bags stuffed with DVDs and USB sticks to first-year students. Most Exec members felt the move was unnecessary, with Clubs and Socs Rep Dan Stride dismissing the proposal as a “colossal waste of money.”
   One Budget line that is to be slimmed down is travel and training for the Exec. Due to the new constitutional structure, and the ability to train Exec members locally, OUSA will be able to realise savings in this area. As a result, this Budget line is to be reduced from $20 000 to $12 000. 
   Submissions on the proposed Budget are welcomed from all students until September 10. Students will then have the chance to vote on the proposed Budget at the next SGM.