ASMSU is asking for more money out of students’ pockets, but the organization isn’t providing enough information to sell its plan to the undergraduate population.
The organization wants student taxpayers to spend an extra $3 per semester on its services, upping its semesterly per student revenue from $13 to $16.
ASMSU last increased its tax in 1999 when its rate went from $10 to $13 per semester. The extra $3 is earmarked for production of the Red Cedar Log, MSU’s yearbook.
Quinn Wright, Student Assembly chairperson, said the organization needs the $3 tax increase to help keep up with contractual demands, such as Legal Services costs, and to provide better funding for registered student organization events.
Student Assembly is in charge of creating and approving ASMSU’s annual budget.
Wright said ASMSU leaders’ first priority was to get the tax on the universitywide referendum ballot; their next concern is what to do with the money.
That is a backward way to go about things and irresponsible of an organization charged with handling more than $900,000 in student taxes each year.
Wright said the proposal for a $3 increase was based on past tax increases. And while it is expected the bulk of the increase would go to paying for student events and contracted costs, numbers haven’t been officially crunched to predict what portions of the potential tax increase will go where.
It is understandable that ASMSU needs more money. It is important the organization has the ability to better pay for student events and provide legal services. But leaders need to show students specifically where the organization plans to spend its wanted revenue increase.
Perhaps ASMSU only needs $2, or as much as $5 per semester. But how should it know if leaders haven’t crunched the numbers?
ASMSU is accountable to student taxpayers for its spending practices. It needs to be responsible and prove its case.
While the organization has been more responsible with its money in recent years, its track record is not unblemished. In 2000, it spent nearly $1,800 on new green leather office furniture. And in 1998, ASMSU leaders used tax dollars to rent a van and take a personal trip to Detroit.
We aren’t willing to pay more for another potential mistake. Leaders need to take another year to better figure out their financial needs and present the student body with a more concrete plan.
Next year, we may be ready to give ASMSU more tax dollars. But this year, we are not.
We recommend undergraduates vote “no” on ASMSU’s proposed $3 tax increase.
