For the 2013 and 2014 school year, each full-time Humber College student paid $160 to the student governance program, which is a mandatory payment on top of each students yearly program fees.
The Humber Student Federation (HSF) was incorporated on August 15, 2000 and has a fifteen year lease with Humber College. Currently, the HSF only has its statements from the March 31st, 2012 year-end audit report available to the public, and as such, it is hard to note significant changes in their finances.
Regardless, there are a few notable increases and expenditures that should be of concern for Humber College students. The 2012 report shows $37,152 spent on miscellaneous expenses, $18,558 spent on travel, and an increase in spending by $96, 554 from 2012 to 2013 for general leasehold improvements.
As the audit report doesn’t go into specifics, its difficult for someone who isn’t involved or associated with the Humber Student Federation to know what the exact nature of business is in regards to these expenses. The HSF website provides a link to the travel and conferences policy, but does not include what constitutes as valid travel, only that one must be pre-approved by the Chief Executive Office beforehand.
In the 2012/2013 consolidated operating and budget summary, 0.3 percent of the Humber Student Federation revenue budget (amounting to a total of $25,000) was used on leasehold improvements. Whereas, the 2013/2014 budget predicts to use 1.2 percent, for a total of $121,554 on leasehold improvements this year.
A leasehold improvement expense is any alteration made to a rental property, such as, light fixtures, painting, and flooring. If there is no benefit to those other than HSF staff, should the students of Humber College be allowed input into what they decide to spend our money on?
