Despite a low turnout at the polls, graduate students approved a tax increase beginning in the 2001-02 school year.

Students approved a 50 cent increase during the Council of Graduate Students’ election, which ended March 30.

COGS President Sam Howerton, who received official numbers Monday, said about 700 people, or 10 percent of the entire graduate student body, voted in last month’s election.

And Howerton said while that’s a larger turnout than the graduate student government’s last referendum vote, executive board members have got their work cut out for them.

“Obviously, if we’re only getting around 10 percent of our constituency to vote, we’ve got a long way to go,” he said.

COGS must ask for a renewal of their $6.75 tax every three years. It’s been six years since COGS requested an additional increase.

The $7.25 tax will appear on graduate students’ tuition bills in the fall semester.

COGS former Vice President of Graduate Welfare Marco Meniketti said the increase is necessary to allow the government to continue doing important work every day.

“We are the only legitimate government for graduate students,” he said.

COGS has seats on several university committees and councils, including the University Graduate Council and the Department of Public Safety Oversight Committee.