Student Council unanimously passed its budget for the 2011-12 academic year at the representative body meeting last night. The budget appropriates about $78,000 from student activities fees to be spent during the current and following semesters.
The approved budget divides funds into groups based on whether they come from the Student Activities Fees fund or not, then further appropriates them to different committees. Students pay a $4 Student Activity Fee along with their tuition each semester, and non-SAF funds are generated through agreements and programs Council holds with several companies, including the University bookstore.
"Basically we are spending this money [the Student Activity Fee] in a way that would benefit students more than just giving it to a [contracted independent organization]," Vice President for Administration Whit Hunter said.
To spend the SAF funds, Council must approve the budget in line-item form, accounting for every expense. The new budget includes initiatives and expenses for the entire school year, but Hunter said it will still allow for the funding of new initiatives not listed. The Council executive board also set aside a $5,000 discretionary fund to cover unlisted initiatives.
"There was some push-back administratively," Hunter said, referring to attempts to pass the budget without accounting for initiatives in line-item form. "[We will] rearrange those funds and use our discretionary funds that [the executive board] sets aside [for any new initiatives]."
To function so far this semester before the approval of this budget, Council has relied upon remaining summer operating funds, as well as the non-SAF funds which remain accessible from year to year and do not require administrative approval. These funds covered the free water bottle initiative for students at the Sept. 3 home football game against William & Mary, as well as the Council retreat and operating expenses up to this point.
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