The Student Council Appropriations Committee released its annual funding allocations to Contracted Independent Organizations Friday.
Last year, Council allocated about $800,000 to 205 CIOs, standing in stark contrast to the 255 CIOs that received funding this year. Only $450,000 was available for a total of 312 CIOs that applied for money this year, Council Vice President for Organizations Kelly Polk said.
In an effort to increase the financial responsibility of the CIO appropriations process, Council implemented a new appropriations system this year resulting in large funding cuts that may have severe effects for some CIOs.
CIOs include club sports teams, service organizations and other groups that receive University services such as the use of the Student Activities Fee and University facilities, Polk said.
Every University student pays a $39 activities fee, most of which is used for allocating funds to CIOs.
"In previous years, we allocated on an assumed amount" of leftover funds, Council Appropriations Chair Guru Raj said. "This year, the Student Activities Committee went through budget hearings and a deliberation process to determine what is essential to the functioning of groups."
Instead of factoring in predicted leftover money from the 2002-2003 school year while allocating funds for next year's CIOs, the Committee decided to place the leftover balance into a bank account for use during allocations next year, Raj said.
The absence of rollover funds in this year's allocation process will be felt most by CIOs who requested a large amount of money, Raj added.
"We discussed different approaches to tackle the problem of reducing [budget] requests," he said. "We decided that one of the most fair ways would be a progressive adjustment with a specific formula applied equally to all groups."
The Committee determined that some organizations were self-sufficient and did not need allocations from the SAF.
The final allocations were made using a tiered system of cuts. The Committee implemented an across the board 5 percent cut, and thereafter each CIO received a $500 allocation outright, Raj said.
The Committee was able to fund 80 percent of the remainder of each CIOs request, up to $1500. Those CIOs who requested between $1500 and $3000 received 70 percent and so on, according to Raj.
Those CIOs that are dissatisfied with their allocations may appeal the Committee's decision if they attend ameeting Thursday, which explains the appeal process. CIOs must then submit a written rationale for their appeal by Monday at 5 p.m., Polk said.
A representative body will meet next Tuesday and hear both sides -- the CIOs and the Appropriations Committee -- and determine whether or not the Committee was justified.
Polk said she expects more groups to appeal this year than in previous years.
Club Gymnastics President Shelly Vogan said her team plans to appeal their allotment.
Practice fees to rent gym space, travelling costs for meets and practice fees require considerable funding, Vogan said.
The Committee offered suggestions for organizations to make up money lost in budget cuts, such as fundraising, soliciting donations and increasing membership dues, Raj said.
"We already bring in almost $3500 in fundraising," Vogan said. "What are we going to do -- sell donuts and raise $4000?"
OFFScreen President Annie Wagner also plans to appeal her group's allocation. OFFScreen shows foreign, independent and classic films weekly in Newcomb Theater.
"If our appeal doesn't come through, were going to do whatever we can to make up the difference, but it's going to entail significant cuts in our programs," Wagner said.
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