Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate gave $1,816 to the Association of Residence Halls Students (ARHS) Tuesday night, raising concerns about the Senate's shrinking budget.

"I think we're at a huge money problem potentially," Town Sen. Sean Miller said.

The Senate's funding of ARHS's event Movin' On 2003 came one week after freezing $10,000 of its budget for the purpose of funding next year's USG elections and the Senate's annual fundraiser, selling calendars. Movin' On is an event featuring performances by several bands at the end of spring semester.

Early during Tuesday's meeting, Senate Treasurer Ashley King said the Senate had $4,000 available to fund student-run events. This recent allocation leaves the Senate with a little more than $2,000 to allocate. ARHS is the third student group to request about $2,000 in funds from the Senate this semester. Student groups often seek funds from the Senate if University Park Allocations Committee (UPAC) denies them funds or cannot give enough money to cover the entire event.

While the amount ARHS requested was more than $2,000, the Senate deducted $225, intended for the purchase of promotional T-shirts, from the group's request.

Several senators argued that the T-shirt funds were the most practical part of the request to cut in the interest of saving as much of the Senate's budget as possible.

"For now, I don't see it necessary for us to fund stuff that's not necessary for the event to go on," Senate President Bridget Van Osten said.

West Halls Sen. Kristen Kofmehl argued against cutting any funds from ARHS's original proposal. The Senate could expect as much as $12,000 in profits next semester from fundraisers, Kofmehl said.

Other senators were less optimistic about incoming funds.

This is the last week that Steve Damadeo will be USG's business director. Damadeo has handled the Senate's fundraising this semester, but his departure abroad after winter break has left senators such as Town Sen. Mike Gallo doubtful of the budget's future.

Gallo said the amount of money the Senate might get in the future is only a speculation.

"If we get an incompetent business director to replace our very competent business director, then we won't have that money next semester," Gallo said.

Damadeo said to his knowledge no person has applied or even expressed interest to take over his position.

Gallo had proposed to cut an additional $600 from ARHS's funding, which would be used to buy free giveaways for people attending Movin' On. Free giveaways are even less necessary than T-shirts for the event to function, he said.

The Senate decided to allocate the $600 after Victoria Fahnestock, Movin' On director, said she needed the money to buy free giveaways two months in advance to the event. Fahnestock, who requested funds from UPAC in November, said she wanted to start raising money as early as possible to ensure Movin' On functions properly.