New ASSOU budget increases student government pay by 74%

(Retraction: the original article read that the ASSOU payroll budget for this academic year increased by 174 percent. The correct number is 74 percent)

The Associated Students of Southern Oregon University revealed their updated payroll budget for the 2012-2013 academic year during Tuesday’s Senate meeting, showing pay increases for all student government positions.

Created by an at-large committee selected during the summer term, the new payroll budget increases total ASSOU payroll spending by over 74 percent, from $61,300 to $107,096 per academic year.

The initial funding allocated for the ASSOU’s 2012-13 term was $61,300, which was increased to $107,096 on Tuesday.

According to the new budget, the ASSOU president will be paid $3,000 a term, as opposed to the original $1,200. The vice president will be paid $2,200 a term, up from the $1,200 voted on during Spring 2012 term.

The speaker of the ASSOU Senate will be paid $900 a term, versus $550 in the old budget. Senator pay increased from $450 to $616 a term, and total senator positions increased from 16 to 17.

The judicial branch also received a pay boost, with the chief justice going from $450 to $900 a term, and justices going from $350 to $440 a term. Two justice positions were eliminated however, shrinking the judicial branch from five to three positions at a savings of $700 a term.

The executive branch was also reorganized in the new payroll budget, going from last year’s three executive directors and seven directors to no executive directors and 10 directors. Directors are now paid $1,500 a term, which is more than both the $850 for executive directors and $650 for directors voted on during Spring term.

The next ASSOU senate meeting will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the senate chambers on the third floor of the Stevenson Union. The ASSOU executive branch meeting will be Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Sours Leadership Center, SU 306.

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