After a year of declining finances, the ASUC Senate struggled to balance its budget for the coming year during its meeting last night.

Although no budget had been passed as of 12 a.m. Thursday, the proposed budget included a 4 percent funding cut to student groups that could save nearly $40,000, according to Finance Chair Madelaine Batac.

The preliminary budget that passed in the finance committee Tuesday was about $1.7 million. Cost-cutting measures included cuts of about 10 percent to executive office budgets as well as a large reduction in the senate-only fund, which could be cut from $15,000 to $7,000.

Senators have also agreed to set aside remaining funds from this year's executive and committee budgets to cover unforeseen expenses next year.

The 2009-10 budget requires a two-thirds approval to pass in the senate.

Wednesday's meeting was filled with more than four dozen student group leaders making last-minute appeals for funding.

"We've never received this little funding," said Cal Literary Arts Magazine Co-Editor Raymond Hobbs, whose group's funding was cut by half. "Unfortunately, $768 is not enough."

Other group leaders expressed frustration that they could not respond to student needs during a time when the campus is also cutting services.

"A lot of things will have to get cut," said Janelle Sales, budgetary manager of the Black Recruitment and Retention Center. "There's no way around it ... a couple hundred dollars makes a difference."

The across-the-board cuts only took place after initial budget proposals, which some groups said were already unfair. But ASUC officials said the final budget could not satisfy everyone.

"We are trying to work with what we have," said Executive Vice President Krystle Pasco. "Having less money doesn't mean having less programming. It means the ASUC and student groups need to be more cost-effective."

Despite limited funding, Pasco said she was confident that the preliminary budget ensured student groups could meet their minimum expenses.

Some felt that the initial budget allocations would be only the beginning of funding troubles for student groups.

The senate spent nearly $300,000 of its reserve fund this year to fund requests not included in the annual budget. Many officials said groups should not depend on the possibility of getting supplementary funding next year.

"This year's senate had the luxury of doing that," Batac said. "For next year's senate, we don't have enough money in the (reserve) which means that they can't fund as many groups for special events."

In addition to determining the budget, Wednesday night was the last meeting for senators to submit bills. More than $3,000 in proposed new spending will be reviewed in committee next week before seeking final approval at the last senate meeting of the semester.

But some senators expressed concern about bills that proposed new spending while the senate is debating how to address possible budget cuts.

"It's unrealistic for them to think that they will get that much money from the senate this late in the game," said Student Action Senator Yishi Zuo. "It's unfortunate-people say one thing and do another."

Tomer Ovadia of The Daily Californian contributed to this report.

Tags: STUDENT GROUPS, SPRING BUDGETING, ASUC SENATE