Student Council representatives debated their proposed 2018-19 annual budget — which allocates a total of $72,039 — during the budget session at their meeting Oct. 2. Following approximately 20 minutes of discussion, the representatives voted to table the budget. Student Council will reconvene the Tuesday after fall break for a final vote.
Michael Horth, a fourth-year Commerce student and the chief financial officer for Student Council, introduced the budget and gave an overview of its contents before Ellie Brasacchio, a third-year College student and the chair of the Representative Body, opened the floor to comments and questions.
The budget included the total expense tallies for the 12 Presidential Cabinet Committees, including Athletic Affairs, Diversity Engagement and Safety and Wellness. The committees that received the highest budget allocations were Sustainability, with an allocation of $7,186; Arts and Student Life, each with an allocation of $6,000; and Buildings and Grounds, with an allocation of $5,425.
The total budget allocated $72,039 across five different categories: the Presidential Cabinet Committees, the Administrative Committee, the Representative Body, Executive and Administrative Operations, and Student Organization Support. The Presidential Cabinet expenditures totaled $43,299, the Representative Body totaled $2,000, Executive and Administrative Operations totaled $6,570 and Student Organization Support totaled $18,500, while the Administrative Committee expenses totaled only $1,670.
The budget also clarified where the funding for each department came from — Student Activities Funds or non-SAF funds.
The SAF is a mandatory $25 fee that University students pay each semester. That money goes into a funding pool that Student Council distributes among contracted independent organizations, which can apply for funding on a rolling basis.
“As a mandatory student fee, the monies collected by the University for funding student activities are public funds that must be administered in a manner consistent with the educational purpose of the University as well as with state and federal law,” the Student Council SAF Appropriations website reads.
Non-SAF funds are raised by Student Council through the student activities fair, fundraisers and its endowment.
The proposed budget allocates $52,458 of SAF funds and $19,581 of non-SAF funds.
In comparison with the 2017-18 annual budget, the 2018-19 annual budget allocates $7,499 less in SAF funds and $1,520 more in non-SAF funds. Overall, this year’s budget allocates $5,879 less compared to last year’s.
“SAF wise, we are about $7,500 less, which is great,” Horth said. “Non-SAF wise, it looks like we’ll be spending $1,520 more this year, and that’s from a few new initiatives.”
After the budget session Brasacchio opened a legislative session and a bill to approve the 2018-19 Student Council Academic Year Budget. She then opened the floor to motions. Avery Gagne, a second-year College student and representative, motioned to table the bill.
Taylor Overton, a third-year College student and Student Council’s vice president for administration, said in an email that the budget is subject to change until it is voted on.
“The budget is still subject to change until it is passed by the Representative Body at our next General Body meeting on the 16th,” Overton wrote.
Representatives will reconvene Tuesday, Oct. 16, to vote on the final 2018-19 budget.
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