Woodworth Commons is cutting back on paper goods after spending around $20,000 more from July to December 2014 than it did during that same time period in 2013.
A supervisor of Woodworth’s dining facility posted a flier asking the staff to be mindful of the use of paper goods, including napkins, plastic silverware, cups and to-go containers.
The flier is instructing staff to put food in the china bowls unless a customer confirmed the meal as carryout.
Jon Lewis, director of dining services, said the flier is a “management tool.”
“The manager is just trying to get the staff to be aware we’re a little ahead on spending on paper goods,” Lewis said.
According to the notice, Woodworth Commons is $20,000 over budget on paper goods. Lewis explained it was a rounded number.
“They’re not $20,000 over budget,” he said. “They’re over $19,000 compared to last year’s expenditures."
Woodworth Commons, Noyer Centre and the Atrium have already spent more than half of the budget for paper goods for the facilities.
For the remainder of the year, Woodworth has $75,842 left to spend for paper goods, compared to the $96,665 already spent.
Between 2014 and 2015 budget reports, there is a $19,572 difference in purchases for paper goods.
Each year, the dining staff estimates what will be needed for the budget by prior years’ usage. Lewis said the dining faculty “might have underestimated” the amount needed for the 2014-15 school year budgets.
Lewis said if the staff continues “being aware” of saving paper goods and ‘’following the plan,” they won’t be over budget at the end of the year.
Lewis said the facility might be wasting paper goods, using a higher amount of inventory or purchasing more expensive items for this school year. He said dining often uses different products year to year to ensure the quality of its products.
He said dining staff receives monthly reports of expenses. Woodworth Commons’ manager is also keeping the staff mindful of last month’s reports.
Dining budgeted $6,740,850 total for Woodworth Commons for the year and had spent $3,080,110, or less than half, in December.
As for other dining facilities such as the Atrium and Noyer Centre, the paper goods budgeted amount for the whole year is less than the current amount spent for the facilities.
Woodworth Commons, the Atrium and Noyer Centre's overall budgets have decreased since last year. However, food courts such as the Tally in the Student Center have budgets that increased from the previous year.
The Tally is currently on track with the budget for paper goods; therefore, it is not likely for the dining hall to go beyond this year’s budget. It had $78,065 remaining as of the beginning of the semester.
“We’re doing exactly what we should be doing financially,” Lewis said. “Some are going to be ahead and some are going to be behind.”
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