Thursday, March 09, 2006

Tax increase proposed in WSA

Western Student Association (WSA) President Derek Getman and Vice-President Alex Mehn floated the idea of raising taxes on WMU students at the March 8 WSA meeting. They proposed increasing the Student Assessment Fee (SAF) by 67%, from $12 to $20.

It isn't entirely clear how such a tax increase would come about. Apparently, it would need to be approved by the Board of Trustees in any case. Also, there would need to be a student referendum on the matter.

How such a referendum would come about is unclear. Getman and Mehn seemed to think that a single student could have it put on the ballot. This seems dubious, given that nothing in the election guidelines addresses student referendums.

Perhaps the lesson for us is that government at all levels will always want more of our money. Government encroachments on our liberty must be actively resisted.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

If it was Getman and Mehn doing it, aren't they graduating? If that's the case, it doesn't seem like their drive for money could be an issue-- they won't see a cent of it.

I'm totally against frivilous spending, but I think the first increase in a billion years might be due. Hell, it might even spur the stingy WSAAC committee to fund club sports.