The debate on whether NIU officials can change budgets approved by the Student Association took a step closer to becoming resolved. It’s about time.

According to a proposal formed by a committee of five student leaders and four administrators, NIU can’t dole out more SA money than the SA wants to distribute. The proposal is now on Barbara Henley’s desk.

If Henley, the vice president for Student Affairs, accepts the proposal, it’ll be a long time coming. If not, she’ll just be prolonging a process which has dragged on too long already.

She’d be wise to OK it. Although the plan stops her from spending SA money, she can veto budget allocations.

However, the plan allows a review committee to overturn her vetoes with a two-thirds vote. Henley would sit on the committee.

The committee should be commended for hammering out the proposal and hopefully ending this controversy. The whole squabble is just another brick in the wall of SA internal affairs that bog down senators in dirty work rather than representing their constituents.

Still, it’s a conditional victory. Henley might not even accept it. Furthermore, it is by no means a license to veto every budget that crosses the table.

But it is hopefully the end of an era of flawed student government and the dawn of true representation.