IUSA presents budget proposal to Congress

The 2013-14 budget for the Indiana University Student Association was presented to IUSA Congress members Wednesday night.

The budget proposal, which totaled $99,735, was outlined by Student Body President Jose Mitjavila and Treasurer Casey Baker.

Of the proposed budget, more than $54,500  was allocated to current IUSA initiatives.

This allocation covered continuing initiative Culture of Care, a donation in the amount of $5,000 to the Union Lounge and funding to support the new Diversity Outreach division.  

Baker said funding for IUSA is provided by IU’s Student Activity Fee, which is one of several mandatory fees added to students’ tuition total via their bursar account.

According to the Office of the Bursar website, students enrolled in more than three credit hours during the 2013-14 academic year will pay $94.94 in activity fees per semester.

Baker said the activity fees generated upward of $500,000 this year, of which $300,000 will go to the IUSA Funding Board.

The Funding Board is separate from the IUSA administration and provides funding to student groups across campus that are registered with the Student Life and Learning Office.

Of the remaining $200,000, Baker said about half will pay for the IUSA Readership Program, which supplies students with copies of USA Today and the New York Times.

The remaining half will supply IUSA with its yearly budget.

In recent weeks, Baker said she met with committee and department leaders in order to gain insight as to what kind of funding each group needed or expected.

Once the meetings were held, Baker worked with her fellow executive staff members to finalize a budget proposal.

IUSA tries to use its funds to benefit as many students as it can, Baker said.

“There’s definitely a lot of time and thought put into this,” she said. “We wanted to make it as accurate as possible, and we hope to strictly follow it.”

Additionally, Baker said all food and recreation-related expenses have been reduced or eliminated from the budget in an effort to decrease miscellaneous
expenses.

According to new IUSA Congressional bylaws, the budget proposal will be considered by the IUSA Oversight and Reform Committee, which will return with questions or concerns about the budget at the next Congress meeting to be held in two weeks.

IUSA Congress will then vote on a finalized budget reflecting any changes at that meeting.

IUSA Vice President of Congress Scott Borer said he hopes the finalized budget will be enhanced by the additional student involvement and time for consideration.

“We are excited to make a better budget this year,” Borer said.

Follow IUSA reporter Holly Hays on Twitter @hv_hays.