The McNeese Student Government Association approved the reallocation of $4 from the Recreational Complex’s $45 student-assessed fee to the Cowgirl Kickers, McNeese’s official dance team Wednesday.
The bill passed with 25 senators in favor, eight against, and one abstention.
On Oct. 15, the Cowgirl kickers presented a bill to the Student Government Association requesting a fee increase from $1 to $4. Three weeks later, they amended it.
The amended proposal, presented by Emily Derouen, director of the Cowgirl Kickers, Wednesday, sought to transfer $4 from the Recreational Complex’s Student Assessed fee to the Cowgirl Kickers to help support their operations.
Derouen said she chose this approach for a few main reasons.
“There’s a great rollover, No. 1,” Derouen said. “No. 2, so that it’s not affecting any more student fees. And No. 3, we are housed in their complex.”
Before submitting this proposal, Derouen discussed it with Jordan Owens, director of the Recreational Complex. Derouen said Owens suggested requesting $3. Other sources said to request $5, leading her to propose $4 as a “middle ground.”
Derouen has mentioned in the past that the dance team is currently under Student Services but does not receive any financial support from the office. Neither do they receive any assistance or perks from the Athletics Department.
Following the bill’s passage, Owens said he recommended $3 because he thought it was a fair and sustainable amount for both sides.
“It aligned with their original target for an increase while still allowing the Recreational Complex to maintain enough rollover funding to continue ongoing upgrades and projects,” he said. “My main goal was to support their initiative without putting the Recreational Complex in a position where future facility improvements or maintenance would be significantly limited.”
According to Owens, if the bill makes it past the University of Louisiana System Board and the reallocation is approved by students in the spring, the Recreational Complex would see an estimated decrease of $50,000 to $60,000 in funding, depending on student enrollment.
Owens said while operations would continue efficiently, the decrease would have a noticeable impact on their ability to complete upgrades and long-term maintenance projects at their current pace.
“We would need to evaluate our spending priorities carefully and possibly extend project timelines,” he said.
Owens said the Recreational Complex typically maintains a rollover balance of about $100,000 to $150,000 each fiscal year as an intentional reserve for large projects and equipment replacements rather than surplus funds.
Current projects include the completion of the second portion of the weight room renovation, with an estimated cost of $60,000. Another is the replacement of all the basketball goals in the main arena, a project estimated at $100,000. The complex is also continuing upgrades and beautification efforts in the hallways and locker room areas.
Owens said the campus pool will also need attention in the near future and while the cost is still being determined, it will likely be a major facility priority in the years ahead.
The Cowgirl Kickers’ offices and practice space are located inside the Recreational Complex, where they regularly use the aerobics room for rehearsals. Owens said the team helps maintain the space and has worked closely with the department to coordinate facility access.
“The proposed fee reallocation reflects a collaborative effort to support both the Cowgirl Kickers and the Recreational Complex,” Jordan said.
The proposal will next be reviewed at the University of Louisiana System Board later this semester. If they approve, it will appear on spring court ballot next semester.
