IUSA revises budget, re-allocates 2011-12 funding

A revised Indiana University Student Association operating budget is now in effect following a unanimous vote during the Jan. 31 IUSA Congress.

The original 2011-2012 budget was proposed in April 2011 following the election of the Big Six administration.

IUSA Treasurer Kyle Straub said he noticed midway through fall semester that some parts of the budget needed to be revised to better achieve platforms and initiatives.

IUSA members discovered some categories of the budget did not need as much funding as they had anticipated, while other categories needed more.

The budget was restructured and voted upon to reflect those needs, Straub said. The main focus of the new budget will assign a larger portion of funding to initiatives rather than operational costs.     

The total budget was decreased by $453, though most of the changes occurred by removing and adding different categories of spending.

IUSA removed funding for the App for Campus Mapping, Eco-Font, Medical Amnesty/Tax-Free Textbooks, the Presidential Debate initiatives, as well as insurance, advising and support operational funding. This $36,500 total was reallocated for increases in office supplies, technology/computers, special events, the IUSA Supreme Court and Congress funding.

The redistribution also went to several of the administration’s initiatives, such as Lauren Spierer efforts, Campus Safety and Hoosier Youth Advocacy.  

It is not typical of IUSA administrations to revamp their budgets midway through a term, Straub said.

“It was just a simple re-allocation,” Straub said.  “This allows us to abide strictly by our budget and helps with planning for the future.”

— Michela Tindera