Student Government Association allocated $27,000 among various student organizations at its semi-annual budget meeting on Wednesday.
The International Student Association received about $2,000 which was the highest amount to be allocated. Film Fest and Indian Culture Association each received about $1,500.
SGA had significant budget cuts this year, resulting in student organizations receiving less money than requested. The total amount requested from organizations was $59,000, but the amount allocated was $13,000 less than the 2024 spring semester’s $40,000.
However, SGA officers said it has other ways to support student organizations. Each organization is given an estimated amount before the meeting and then can be represented by a senator to lobby for more funds.
“We have other sources, like our event-based funding pool. They can apply for that on an event basis,” said Athena Triantopoulos, SGA vice president. “Also, fundraising is such a cool way to allocate funds to yourself. There are usually alumni that are passionate about things, that you just have to find.”
During the meeting, senators lobbied for the student organizations they represent by requesting more money that must be transferred from other organizations. The rest of the senators then place their votes for the bill.
Many organizations did not receive any extra money from this lobbying process due to budget cuts for each organization. The only bill passed was ACU for Life’s request of $25 from the ACU College Republicans.
SGA’s process for distributing its budget includes meeting with each student organization. Tyler Gaylor, SGA’s executive treasurer, and Clayton Jones, SGA’s chief financial officer, met with the 65 organization representatives for 15 minutes to discuss how much funding they should receive.
“So they’ve had those 65 meetings and that’s required to receive funding that they go,” said Josh Springer, SGA president. “And that’s for them to hear their story and kind of understand what they need and hear what makes them different.”
Gaylor, senior accounting major from Richardson and Jones, senior financial major from McKinney, worked to distribute SGA’s budget for the organizations. The annual budget meeting allows organizations to lobby for more funding.
“It also gives them a chance to advocate for themselves. Money is personal and so by giving them a chance to advocate for themselves, we can see issues that maybe we didn’t see before,” said Springer, senior financial management major from Helotes.
The budget meeting also informs student organization leaders about other resources available.
“I just think it’s like their first opportunity to interact with SGA for the semester,” said Triantopoulos, senior advertising and public relations major from Las Vegas.
Springer said he is working to increase SGA’s budget and has plans to increase it over the next few years.
“So that won’t directly affect these students, but I hope that gives them hope that we are working to receive more money through fundraising ourselves,” Springer said.
The full budget is linked below.
S.B.101.01 — Fall 2024 Budget Resolution
