Student Government will distribute more money to student organizations through appropriations requests after a fall increase in student fees.

Tim Lipka, a senior in political science and SG employee, said 90 percent of the fee increase will go to appropriations – a required stipulation of the fee increase approval.

“Last year we gave out around $89,000,” Student Senate President and former chair of the appropriations committee Kelli Rogers said. That total should be upwards of $127,000 this year according to Student Body Treasurer Elmo Lamm, though he said he anticipated the amount would go up after some surpluses were accounted for.

A unique issue with appropriations this past year was the involvement of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford in the process. Stafford personally approved all appropriations requests in lieu of the budget crisis, but Rogers doesn’t anticipate it will be an issue next year.

“Dr. Stafford did not want to continually be involved in the appropriations process,” Rogers said. “He recognizes that it should be a Student Government decision.”

Rogers said Stafford understands how hard the appropriations committee works on requests, and that the time commitment is great.

“The committee spends over 30 hours throughout the process for each session,” she said. “He doesn’t have time to do it.”

Rogers said she can’t predict the future, and if the situation is similar to last year’s, he may have to be involved again.

“If it’s decided that fee-funded budgets apply to the state budget restriction then he will most likely have to [oversee the process],” Rogers said.

A new committee will also help to supplement group event funding so all organizations on campus can get monetary aid from SG.

“We’ll actually have a working finance committee,” Rogers said. “We’ll almost have two different appropriations processes so not only student groups but other organizations, like the Alumni Association or UAB, can get funding.”

Lamm said the committee will be looking to help out event planning for all campus organizations, though the committee name may be altered.

“It’s called the finance committee dispersement, pending a more creative title,” Lamm said. “Anyone can request money to co-sponsor events.”

Rogers said the committee will help groups that find themselves incapable of hosting events to have funding for them.

“Something I saw from groups this year was, because of the cuts and restraints, some groups weren’t able to host their events because they couldn’t get funding from other areas,” Rogers said. “Despite budget cuts and restrictions I’m sure we’ll face this year, Student Government will still be an avenue so groups can put on events they want to.”

Student Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Lindsay said on top of having more money to dispense, the process will also have an increased focus on accountability for student organizations.

“Groups that received funds the last semester have to show how it was used how it was appropriated,” Lindsay said. “One thing that’s going to be different is we’ll require receipts.”

Lindsay said a lack of accountability in recent years will be corrected through an emphasis on documenting expenses and training senators in the appropriations process. Lamm said his office will also be open to review appropriations requests ahead of their scheduled times.

“Student group representatives have an opportunity to consult with the treasurer,” Lamm said. “If they want someone to look at their request, they can.”