Student Government will spend $37,590 from the SG Surplus Account to furnish the new SG offices in the Student Union.SG Senators debated the bill to allocate the money for more than two hours at the Senate meeting Wednesday night.The current balance of the SG Surplus Account is $83,613, which is made up of all unused operational funds remaining at the end of each year.The account can only be used for one-time, capital expenditures such as renovations or equipment repair, according to K.C. White, dean of students.Robertson said SG has been saving money into the Surplus Account for more than four years in preparation of buying the new furniture when Union renovations are complete.Former SG President Chris Odinet said former SG President Brad Golson began setting aside money to purchase furniture in 2004. Golson could not be reached for comment.  The original proposal for the furniture, submitted by Mary Miles, Facility Services assistant director, was for more than $76,000. Robertson said cuts to the budget were made to reduce the costs to $37,590.   Robertson said he was also able to convince Shirley Plakidas, director of the Union, to spend $12,925 from the Union Construction Contingency Account to fund the purchase of furniture for the SG office reception area.Robertson said the furniture could not be purchased from less expensive vendors, such as IKEA, because of University contractual obligations to which SG must adhere. “The Union is seeking to have uniformity throughout the Union,” Robertson said. “The University has contracts with vendors whose products are ensured to be up to fire code and not made using child labor.”Through the contract, the furniture will be purchased at a discount of 45 percent from list price, Robertson said.Robertson said the furniture will be guaranteed for 12 years, but should last at least 20.Sen. Emily Chambers, Arts and Sciences, argued this furniture is an unnecessary cost.”My constituents sit in desks that are too small and falling apart,” Chambers said. “And we’re saying that we need $200 chairs to effectively do our job?”—-Contact Katie Kennedy at [email protected]