Editor:
The implication of the Wildcat's front page article ("Budget bypasses Trujillo to approval" Feb. 16) yesterday was that T.J. Trujillo was the source of the recent delay in the budget approval process. That is grossly misleading. Such delays were primarily the result of concerns raised by the GPSC in the initial budget process. The GPSC indicated that they would not pass a budget until detailed information had been obtained from the Budget Advisory Committee to properly determine how the funds should be allocated. The Budget Advisory Committee was informed in late December by President Trujillo that more information would be needed from them in order to have a budget approved by the time that the additional funds from the Bookstore profits would be needed. Despite numerous requests from President Trujillo, the Budget Advisory Committee did not submit the proposed budget to Trujillo until Feb. 13, 1995.
Additionally, Trujillo continuously asked the legislative bodies for reports concerning their expenditures and financial needs throughout this school year. His requests were repeatedly ignored. Due to the lack of compliance with these requests, a budget could not be created. During this time Trujillo was actively pursuing the information needed by the Budget Advisory Committee to formulate the budget, but without the cooperation of the legislature the budget process was stalled. Thus, Trujillo was not the roadblock that GPSC President Mitzi Forbes made him out to be.
Trujillo had informed the CCC that he intended to allocate some of the additional funds from the Bookstore to cover previously approved expenditures if necessary. The CCC did not object. Only when the additional funds were needed to cover contracts that could not be suspended did Trujillo call for the additional funds to be used. On Feb. 9, 1995, Trujillo submitted a memorandum to the ASUA accountant requesting these funds.
President Trujillo's actions throughout the budget process have been consistent with routine ASUA budgetary procedures and were within his constitutional authority. Nonetheless, the GPSC has insisted that there be an unnecessary constitutional showdown. Such theatrics play well in the Wildcat, but ultimately only result in a waste of time for all concerned.
Tim Cocchia Douglas Allsworth
First-year law student Second-year law student
Anna Young Liz Sugges
First-year law student First-year law student