Spring Break
SGA plans to cut back by recommending future reductions
RAISA HABERSHAM
Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: News
The Student Government Association passed a resolution recommending future SGA administrations decrease their budget by 10 percent.
This comes at a time when University students paid a mandatory spring semester $100 fee.
"We looked at the student fee increase and thought there wasn't a need to spend fees with extra fees," said Chris Chiego a School of Public and International Affairs senator, in a phone interview. "This also will show that SGA is No. 1 in solidarity of the University and that we're willing to cut back."
Student organizations are encouraged to "streamline their budgets" and eliminate unnecessary spending, according to the resolution and are encouraged to re-evaluate budgets prior to the 2010 All-Campus Allocations meeting.
"We are not demanding [student clubs and organizations] to adhere to this," Chiego said. "We are just asking if they consider doing this, keeping in mind the student fee increase each year."
Money allocated to student organizations comes from the student activity fee paid by students. Students paid $73 in student activity fees, according to the Bursar's Office Web site.
"Funding is based on need, and groups present an itemized budget in specific categories," said Jerry Anthony, assistant director of the Campus Life Business Office. "We recall generated income from student activity organizations as well as any excess student activity fees."
In a report generated by Anthony, as little as 18 cents and as much as $30,875 were recalled from 113 student organizations in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
"If an organization does not spend all of their funds and the funds have not been committed to a specific expenditure, then they are recalled on June 30."
Money not spent by student organizations goes into prior year funds and is used for the next school term for general purposes. The fund accumulated $3 million this past school year.
The resolution isn't set in stone and is up for re-evaluation.
According to SGA's 2007-2008 budget, of the $46,100 allocated there were $5,000 funds unused.
Though SGA doesn't have control over where the money goes, three SGA members are on the All-Campus Small Clubs and Allocation Committee.
"It will be up to the All-Campus Small Clubs and Allocation Committee to decide on how the excess funds from the resolution are spent," Chiego said. "They may or may not decide to spend the money on other organizations."
This comes at a time when University students paid a mandatory spring semester $100 fee.
"We looked at the student fee increase and thought there wasn't a need to spend fees with extra fees," said Chris Chiego a School of Public and International Affairs senator, in a phone interview. "This also will show that SGA is No. 1 in solidarity of the University and that we're willing to cut back."
Student organizations are encouraged to "streamline their budgets" and eliminate unnecessary spending, according to the resolution and are encouraged to re-evaluate budgets prior to the 2010 All-Campus Allocations meeting.
"We are not demanding [student clubs and organizations] to adhere to this," Chiego said. "We are just asking if they consider doing this, keeping in mind the student fee increase each year."
Money allocated to student organizations comes from the student activity fee paid by students. Students paid $73 in student activity fees, according to the Bursar's Office Web site.
"Funding is based on need, and groups present an itemized budget in specific categories," said Jerry Anthony, assistant director of the Campus Life Business Office. "We recall generated income from student activity organizations as well as any excess student activity fees."
In a report generated by Anthony, as little as 18 cents and as much as $30,875 were recalled from 113 student organizations in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
"If an organization does not spend all of their funds and the funds have not been committed to a specific expenditure, then they are recalled on June 30."
Money not spent by student organizations goes into prior year funds and is used for the next school term for general purposes. The fund accumulated $3 million this past school year.
The resolution isn't set in stone and is up for re-evaluation.
According to SGA's 2007-2008 budget, of the $46,100 allocated there were $5,000 funds unused.
Though SGA doesn't have control over where the money goes, three SGA members are on the All-Campus Small Clubs and Allocation Committee.
"It will be up to the All-Campus Small Clubs and Allocation Committee to decide on how the excess funds from the resolution are spent," Chiego said. "They may or may not decide to spend the money on other organizations."
Be the first to comment on this story