Mass transit board members clashed Monday over cutting bus service to make up for a projected $32,000 deficit spurred by rising fuel prices and low university funding.

After heated debate, which spilled over to after the meeting, the Student Association Mass Transit Board decided to wait until next week on a proposal to cut a bus on route 4R and route 1 in the morning.

The cuts would affect students living in Grant towers, Stevenson towers, Douglas Hall, Lincoln Hall, Suburban Estates, and Suburban Apartments.

Board Chairman Todd Allen said the cuts can be made as soon as Nov. 26, but the board generally agreed that any service cuts should not be made until next semester.

The debt resulted from NIU overestimating the number of fee-paying students who are taking classes this fall, said Rick Schaschwary, who handles the board’s budget.

Also, instability in the Persian Gulf has caused fuel prices to shoot up to 40 percent more than expected, said Charlie Battista of the Huskie Bus Line.

“We are operating in a deficit decision and it isn’t going to get any better,” Schaschwary said.

Fearing a war with Iraq, some board members stressed the importance of budget responsibility.

“Oil prices are going to go crazy. If that means cutting service, then so be it,” said board member Steve Lawrence about the possibility of a war.

Lawrence also said students would be outraged with another raise in the bus fee. Students pay about $3 per credit hour ($45 for 15 hours) for bus service.

Board member Henry Treftz said he supported the cuts because raising money, except through student fees, would be difficult. “We really can’t have a bake sale and come up with the $32,000,” Treftz said.

However, Schaschwary said even though he was pleased about the board’s concern, members should be careful before making careless decisions.

He said the board should be concerned about offering consistent service. “It is not expected that you have to take everything all in one shot,” Schaschwary said.

Along the same lines, Battista said cutting service is against the mission of the mass transit board to provide reliable transportation.

He said he would hate to see a bus system dwindle away after students fought so hard to get one. Battista asked board members to look for some way to get federal funding.