Members of Student Senate passed eight bills Tuesday night, including plans to spend its near $13.6 million budget for the 2009-2010 academic year.
The budget, which is funded through the Activity & Service Fee paid by UF students, supports Recreational Sports, the Reitz Union and student organizations.
The budget increased by about 2.3 percent from last year because of UF's plan to admit 1,000 fewwer students each year for the next three years.
It usually increases by 5 percent, said Sen. Jordan Johnson, chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
To go into effect, the bill must be approved a second time next week.
The Senate also approved a measure that would increase Student Government's emergency reserve fund to $2 million over a three-year period, a move intended to cover any major damage to SG-sponsored facilities following a catastrophic event, said Student Body Treasurer Paul Drayton.
"If a hurricane were to hit Gainesville, Fla., we would have a shelter over our head before FEMA can get to us," Drayton said.
Senators also voted to allocate $60,000 from reserves to SG operations to expand the third floor of the Reitz Union, Johnson said.
The project should be completed at the beginning of spring 2009 and will supply 13 new organizations with equipped rooms and 22 clubs with storage.
Before that, senators approved a plan that would spend nearly $17,000 on 16 recycling bins that would be placed around the Reitz Union.
Sen. Jim Martz questioned how 16 bins could cost so much money.
"I just can't see this being a fiscally responsible move," he said.
Sen. Jimmy Carlsen of the Sustainability Committee said the bins would be designed for long-term use and would be durable.
Carlsen added that the fee for shipping and handling was steep.
Earlier in the meeting, Student Body President Kevin Reilly received criticism from senators for telling UF trustees that students were satisfied with the proposed Student Conduct Code revisions that outlaw common-source alcohol containers and drinking games on and off campus.
Not one senator spoke in favor of the changes, said Sen. Ben Cavataro.
Sen. Heshan "Grasshopper" Illangkoon said he was "very disappointed" Reilly supported the document.
"Anything is in their realm to prosecute," Illangkoon said.
