Until last night, ASUA had been operating without an official budget for nearly four months.

The Undergraduate Senate unanimously approved the 1996-97 Associated Students budget of $494,000. Student government is funded by student fees and University of Arizona Associated Students Bookstore revenues.

The original ASUA budget of $556,500 had to be cut by $62,500 to provide funding for the Graduate Professional Student Council.

ASUA had been operating on leftover funds from its summer budget while awaiting the signing of a separation agreement with GPSC.

The Senate was allocated 10 percent of the $256,000 student fee revenues. Of the $19,400 Senate budget, $9,900 will be divided among the senators for stipends and $2,000 for office supplies. The remaining $7,500 will be used for projects the Senate undertakes throughout the year.

Last years Senate budget was $26,000.

Gilbert Davidson, Undergraduate Senate chairman, said, "With the cut in the budget we will not be able to do a lot with programming. We need to prioritize."

The Senate discussed whether to divide the remaining money between Senators or to leave it in one joint account.

Sen. Lauren Sliger recommended that the group leave the money in one account to not tie up funds that could be used currently. The Senate unanimously agreed.

The Senate also approved the $46,300 rollover budget for the 1996-97 fiscal year, which consists of funds not previously spent.

All rollover funds must be used for one-time capital expenditures of more than $500.

ASUA plans to use the funds to replace worn out carpet in the executive office, waiting room, and high traffic areas at a cost of $10,000. Also on the itemized budget, $3,000 is allocated to replace old and broken furniture.

In other business, the Senate discussed constitutional changes that should be completed within the next two weeks. The Senate proposed to revise who determines the budget and who approves legislation.

Under the current constitution, the president, both vice presidents, the treasurer and one senator create the budget. The Senate would like to simplify this by only including the Senate and the president, giving the president the power of a line-item veto.

To be more efficient, the Senate would also like to change the legislation approval process.

The current bylaws state that the Central Coordinating Council, a group composed of ASUA and GPSC representatives, must approve legislation. The Senate wants to limit it to the president and the Senate.

Along with bylaw changes, ASUA will exclude GPSC from its constitution and eliminate the CCC.

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