DASB Senate increases student body fees to $10, OKs $9,200 from Eco Fund for water policy project

The DASB Senate voted to increase the student body fee from $9 to $10 per quarter during its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The decision to increase fees is a result of a steady decline in student enrollment, senators said. The student body fee serves as the main source of income for the senate’s budget. Although a $1 increase per individuals seems like a small change, senate members said it can make a big difference.

“Overall, we are at a loss of about $121,000, which lowers our overall budget from $1.3 to $1.2 million,” said Naeema Kaleem, chair of finance. “This loss makes it harder to fund programs on campus, which means that when we do our deliberations come winter, we are going to have to make some tough decisions.”

Starting in 2016-17, the student body fee will partially reduce losses by about $75,000. Even though the senate will still be losing about $40,000, the fees will give more flexibility in expenditures for the winter quarter, when the senate needs to make budget decisions.

The senate also voted 19-0 on approving funds for the Water Policy Project, financed through the a portion of the budget called the Eco Fund, a branch of the senate’s previously allocated money that annually allots $30,000 to fund environment-related programs on campus.

In order to make this possible, the senate initially lowered annual budgets from $500,000 to $470,000 to create the Eco Fund. All remaining funds not spent from the Eco Fund transfer over to next year’s budgets.

The program’s main objective is to raise student awareness, educate participants on environmental matters and to teach them advocacy.

Part of the program will include funding students to attend the California Water Policy Conference at UC Davis in April 2016. The representatives will meet state legislators involved with resolving policy issues affecting California’s water supply.

“Students will learn more about environmental policy and how it affects De Anza and our surrounding community on a statewide level,” Kaleem said.

The legislation will provide $9,200 for a selected group of six to ten students to be educated on the California drought and water reform.

So far, the Water Policy Project is the second program supported by the Eco Fund. There is $18,600 remaining in this year’s Eco Fund. Those interested in receiving funding for an environmental project can fill out the Eco Fund application and submit a proposal to the senate.