On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Student Body Treasurer Garrison Seitz, a second-year studying environmental engineering, and Sam Brohaugh, a third-year studying civil engineering and chair of Student Government’s Finance Committee, held a town hall in Talley Student Union to detail several changes to the Student Government (SG) budget in the upcoming 100th session.
Seitz and Brohaugh led a presentation detailing numerous changes. The most significant is an over $36,000 decrease to the total budget, based on a $1 Student Government fee decrease. Seitz said the upcoming session would have a budget of approximately $406,000.
Seitz said fall and spring appropriation lines have increased by approximately $2,000. Additionally, $5,000 has been allocated towards Packapalooza, which Seitz said was previously taken from various areas before.
“We have a set line item for Packapalooza, which we have precedent for constantly funding,” Seitz said. “Having this set line item alleviates the stress for incoming student body officers to manage that.”
Previously, SG’s judicial branch received an $800 line item, and the Student Body Chief Justice received a $4,500 stipend. Because of the upcoming referendum, Seitz said this was not included in next year’s budget. Funding for certain development programs has also increased, Seitz said.
“Leadership activities has increased $2,000,” Seitz said. “I think Student Government needs more money to facilitate professional development and advocate for students. We need to take care of our student leaders and be able to actually instill in them good practices.”
Seitz also added a new line to be used toward promotion and outreach activities.
“Hopefully we can outreach to the student body more with this line, and be able to connect with students, hear more concerns,” Seitz said.
Brohaugh said the executive line has decreased from $8,000 to $5,000. He said the reason for this was because funds for more specific initiatives were available through another initiative line, but this funding was more specifically meant for the Student Body president and vice president.
“As we’re starting to re-evaluate how we see traditions and initiatives, the idea was that all members of Student Government, including executive department directors, can access that initiatives line,” Brohaugh said. “But that executive operations line item would be more of that discretionary line item specific to the student body president and vice president for their own personal initiatives.”
According to Seitz, two positions previously unpaid are now set to receive stipends. The student Senate president pro tempore, effectively the second in command of Senate, and the executive branch’s chief of staff would each receive $1,500. These positions would receive greater scrutiny with these new stipends.
“The turnover rates for chief of staff and pro tempore is higher than student body officers,” Seitz said. “The workload is high enough for a stipend but definitely not nearly as much as a student body officer, so I was thinking a third, maybe closer to half. I’ve settled at $1,500.”
The budget is not finalized yet and is set to be discussed during the next Senate meeting.
