Student leaders who back the $30 per year activity fee have yet to discuss logistics with the Bursar's Office and the Budget Office, a fact that administrators say might cause problems if students and regents approve the fee.
Dick Roberts, budget director, said before the fee can be executed, a proper network must be set up to regulate where the money goes, as with any university revenue.
But Roberts said no student leaders have contacted him about the student activity fee.
"At this point, we have not been invited into conversation about how we would administer the money," he said.
If the money does go through UA administration, Roberts said his office would oversee the accounting of the fee, which would create additional work.
Using administrative services could mean a portion of the fee would help pay those costs, but Roberts said he is unsure whether that is a possibility.
Student leaders behind the fee said administration would not get any money.
Roberts said there is time to settle the issues, but the administration does not have an understanding of the fundamental structure of the fee.
"Nobody from ASUA has sat down with us and talked about how the fee ought to work," Roberts said.
It is the responsibility of any council to discuss monetary distribution with the Budget Office, Roberts said. The office then considers the parameters and creates an accounting structure to "manage the dollars."
Suellyn Hull, UA bursar, said student activity fee organizers have not contacted her either.
Hull said the first tuition count for the fall semester is conducted on July 14. At that time, bills will be sent out to students.
Prior to that date, the Bursar's Office must set up business rules for issues such as when the fee is charged, whom it is charged to and when it is refundable.
But Hull said she is not sure how complicated the process would be because she has not been approached by anyone about the activity fee.
Associated Students of the University of Arizona Sen. Matt Harris said fee organizers have not focused on those logistical issues because they want to see if the fee passes first.
"If something like this does go through, that's when the administrators come into play," he said.
President Peter Likins said he also has no idea about the logistical issues.
"I have not been part of any conversation of that sort," he said.
Likins said the lack of communication could produce a delay. But if students vote in favor of the fee, he will not stand against it because it is refundable.
Chris Herstam, president of the Arizona Board of Regents, said he expects a sufficient amount of research on the fee before he considers his vote.
ASUA Sen. Nick Bajema said the Bursar's Office was not contacted because organizers want students to be able to refund the fee easily.
To get refunds for current fees such as the KAMP Radio and student recreation fees, students have to write a letter of appeal to the office.
Bajema said fee organizers want to make it so students can walk into the Bursar's Office and receive their refund immediately.
But those details still need to be worked out, he said.
Bajema also said organizers "don't have absolutely everything figured out yet," though he does not believe it will cause delay.
Bajema said other universities with activity fees already in place have been contacted, and FHM Marketing Firm conducted a survey on campus free of charge to determine how students feel about the fee.
The survey found that 84 percent of students were possibly or definitely in favor of a $25 fee.
Student leaders say the activity fee would bring big-name concerts and speakers to campus and would generate between $1.25 million and $1.4 million.
- Aaron Mackey contributed to this report.