The Associated Students Inc. Senate unanimously passed a resolution on its first and final reading yesterday that will place a referendum on the spring 2014 ballot to increase the ASI fee by $16.
At a November ASI Senate meeting, ASI Executive Director Richard Haller gave an ASI budget report that highlighted the multi-million dollar organization’s budget deficit of approximately $750,000.
Haller said that the deficit could be resolved with either a $16 ASI fee increase or cuts to current ASI programs and services.
The referendum will include an additional stipulation that could change the process of future ASI fee increases. Currently, students vote to approve ASI fee increases.
Under the new stipulation, though, the ASI fee would increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI is based on inflation, which means the fee would rise or fall with the changing economy.
A vote for the fee increase will also be a vote for implementing the CPI.
The current ASI fee is $44 per semester. If the fee increase passes in spring, it would bring the fee up to $60.
The ASI fee has not increased since 2000.