By ABIGAIL SHEARER
Tiger Media Network
Next week, the Fort Hays State University student body will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed $2 increase in student fees per credit hour. FHSU Athletics is requesting the increase after originally requesting a $4 increase per student credit hour.
Any increase over 99 cents must go to a student body vote.
“[The] funds will primarily be allocated for transportation needs and the associated operational expenses,” FHSU Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke told Tiger Media Network.
According to Hammeke, over the past year, the athletic department has faced transportation challenges. Currently, one of their buses is beyond repair, and several others require urgent repairs.
Baron Green, a controller in the FHSU Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, explained how student fees play into FHSU Athletics’ budget.
“The projected $2 fee increase is estimated to generate approximately $190,000 in additional funding for Athletics,” Green said.
Green noted this is just a rough estimate. He also said FHSU Athletics generates funding in a multitude of ways.
“Currently, the funds from student fees constitute roughly 25% of Athletics’ annual revenue,” he said. “The rest of their funding comes primarily from fundraising, advertising, and ticket sales. The additional funding generated from the $2 student fee would represent roughly an additional 5% when compared to their existing funding.”
Athletics is currently funded at $9.97 per credit hour. If the vote passes, the fee would increase to $11.97 per credit hour, generating nearly $1.1 million for Athletics annually from the student fee.
According to Green, last year, FHSU Athletics generated $3,894,123 in total funds. Their operating expenditures last year were $4,077,302, leaving a budget shortfall of $183,179.
While Athletics has additional funding sources, according to Hammeke, not all of those funds can be used for bus repairs and maintenance. Most of the funding for the maintenance and repairs of the buses comes from student fees.
“The best way to utilize the student fees in a responsible manner is to help with our transportation costs, since most fundraising goes towards keeping our facilities decent,” Hammeke said. “We’re all at Fort Hays State University, and I just hope that we can come together to make this happen.”
All Student Government Association voting, including the proposed Athletics increase, will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, and close at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. A link will be sent via email with voting information.