Going into the fourth week of fiscal year discussions at Student Senate meetings regarding administrative, athletic and student services, the group passed a Housing Department’s budget that will increase 9.5 percent.

“This is a big issue,” said Commuter Senator Rachel O’Brien during the meeting.

She said in defense of the Housing Department that the university’s Board of Trustees had a hand in allocating funds and determining how much goes towards this budget.

Some of the rate increases for the 2007-2008 fiscal year include: a proposed $246 increase for single dorm rooms, a $218 increase for double dorm rooms, a $190 increase for triple dorm rooms, a $146 increase for built-up triples, and a $218 increase for quadruple dorm rooms. On-campus apartments and suites saw increases across the board ranging from $200 to $320 dollars, averaging out to the 9.5 percent increase. It’s a $3,767,980 increase from $29,220,005 revenue in FY07 to a projected total of $32,987,985 for FY08.

Director of Housing William Conk said that the new buildings being constructed are substantial to the fee increase, which he said have been discussed with the students before. He emphasized that this fee only applies to on-campus residents. Off-campus students in Durham, Dover, Newmarket and other areas aren’t affected by this increase.

“I hope they feel informed,” Conk said. “We told them three years ago. They are beneficiaries for the students before them. It’s a continuing practice.”

Several items were passed unanimously at Sunday night’s Student Senate meeting, including the Student Activity fee, the Transit fee and Athletics fee, which all saw no increases.