It is still possible for some University organizations to discuss budgets without breaking into a sweat, even in these tough economic times.
The Student Government Finance Committee is under budget by $6,300, according to Buddy Bryson, student body treasurer and a junior in sociology. This means that almost 40 percent of its initial budget of $16,500 remains unspent.
The Student Government Finance Committee is responsible for funding student groups, but the Appropriations Committee is not allowed to help all student groups.
“The Finance Committee is responsible for funding groups that can’t go to appropriations. For example, Service Raleigh, Homecoming, Leader of the Pack and similar events,” Bryson said.
For student organizations to be eligible for appropriations, they must fulfill certain requirements, Bryson said. The group must be registered online through Student Organization Resource Center, it must be 50 percent self-sufficient and have a budget plan.
Organizations that fulfill these requirements can then approach the Appropriations Committee.
Those groups ineligible for appropriations can approach the Student Government Finance Committee for funding.
According to Ethan Harrelson, CALS senator and chair of the Appropriations Committee, funding for student organizations on campus is going smoothly.
“The appropriations budget for the year is around $160,000. We appropriate $85,000 in the fall and we are appropriating around $75,000 this spring,” Harrelson, a senior in biology, said. “Currently, we have around $16,000 saved for appeals and over 40 groups are appealing so far. It could be more than that, as they have until next Sunday to let me know.”
Last semester, 170 groups asked for $149,879 in appropriations, Harrelson said. This semester, 156 groups are asking for $170,634.
“This is a general trend we have been seeing,” Harrelson said. “During tight budgetary moments like we are in now, we see spikes in the amounts that people ask from us. And we do everything we can to make sure that each group gets as much funding as we can offer them,” Harrelson said.
The most any group can request from the Appropriations Committee is $2,000. For groups that need to approach the Finance Committee, the committee itself approves any amount below $500, while any larger amount requires Student Senate approval.
“As far as a bill goes, if it is $500 or less, Finance Committee can directly fund that project or group without a formal bill. If it is more than $500 it needs the consensus of the Student Senate,” Bryson said. “Appropriations does a bill each semester that clearly allocates out which groups will receive funding.”
The surplus money remaining from this year’s total budget, including that from the Finance Committee, is then reallocated to the next budget, giving at least 60 percent of the money to appropriations.
“The Appropriations Committee does not get to use the unused money, with one exception,” Harrelson said. “All money that does not get spent by Student Government this year rolls over into surplus. This surplus is then divided by the next year’s appropriations budget so we can give it right back out to students.”
According to Harrelson, this was the case with Student Government’s 2010 surplus.
“Some surplus rolled over from last year that will be given out to groups this year,” Harrelson said.
The 2011 surplus amount will be determined after spring semester, Bryson said.
“Over the summer the surplus amount will be determined by the Business Office and Student Government. This happens because the University ends its fiscal year on June 30,” Bryson said. “Then the current student body treasurer is required to give at least 60 percent of the surplus to appropriations.”
