Students negotiate, complete athletics, activities budget

Following weeks of briefings and debate, the Student Finance Council has set the 2014-15 budget for Mt. Hood student activities and athletics.

Both groups will see significant reductions, due to Mt. Hood’s current and projected enrollment decline, which also cut into the current-year spending.

The programs’ cutbacks reflect a 17 percent reduction in funding ordered by school officials.

The MHCC athletics department finished its deliberation in just one meeting, on Feb. 13. Student activities groups met for two deliberation sessions before final budget figures were adopted.

The athletics program will receive $348,674, down about $89,000 from current-year funding. The biggest reduction comes from cutting out-of-state travel, including all out-of-state travel for the Saints cross country teams.

Student activities groups grappled to find $28,825 in combined budget savings.

ASG took the brunt of the cuts, losing about 30 percent of its budget. The final, total amount approved for activities came to $353,675.

Student representatives for the various groups were the only people allowed to agree on the budget cuts, since all funds for activities and athletics come from student activity fees.

Each year, each group or department must submit its proposed one-year budget plan. Faculty members and student advisers are to provide only assistance.

David Sussman, MHCC manager of Student Union and specialized student services, oversees the annual student finance council proceedings and provides key help in advising student leaders representing the programs.

He said this year’s deliberations went “very well,” especially in light the large cuts forced by the projected enrollment decline. This has not had to happen for several years, he said.

Sussman praised program advisers, including MHCC Athletic Director Kim Hyatt, and the student representatives who saw the process through.

Students were able to collaborate successfully and to produce a balanced budget “that should allow MHCC’s programs to continue and thrive,” he said.