Every year the UA is given around $1.9 million to allocate to the branches of student government for the upcoming year – money that funds Spring Fling, major speakers, Hey Day, Sophomore Skimmer, free New York Times, and, of course, every student group on campus. Our money comes from the Vice-Provost for University Life, and is pegged to the General Fee.

This year, a low projected General Fee increase meant that the UA’s budget rose by the same proportion as last year (3.7%) and so the UA was given an extra $67,000 to distribute. The actual distribution is done in a two-step process: the Budget Committee (consisting of Sakina Zaidi, UA Treasurer, and UA Members Zac Byer and Ryan Houston) issues a recommendation, which is then considered by the entire UA in a lengthy public process that culminates in a Budget Decision Meeting where the UA at large may amend the Budget Committee’s recommendation before a final vote on February 28th.

The budget recommendation is available in a printable version (for legal-size paper!) or an online Google Docs version.

We hope that you provide comments and feedback on this site! This is your chance to have your say on how your $1.9 million is spent! Check below the jump for a summary of key features of this year’s recommendation:

Key features of this year’s Budget Recommendation include:

• A major increase in SAC funding: an extra $67,100 for student groups (or 8.1% increase from last year!).
• Restructuring Spring Fling finances: accounting changes mean that while Fling is unchanged its true cost is now reported and accounted for; plus, the recommendation includes a little bit extra for Concert talent.
• A major increase in Connaissance Major Speaker Honoraria funding (from $61,000 per semester to $75,000 per semester).
• Restoration of the SPEC Film Speaker Event with $13,000 of funding.
• Some program eliminations:
  • Dolphin Server ($5450)
  • SPEC Concerts Small Show Series ($3000)
  • SPEC Connaissance Philomathean Society Annual Oration Co-Sponsorship ($3000)
  • Minority Scholars Weekend ($2250)
  • SPEC Special Events Third Spring Fest ($2000)
  • SPEC Connaissance Haitian Solidarity Week Co-Sponsorship ($1000)
  • Haitian Solidarity Week Co-Sponsorship ($1000)
  • Holocaust Memorial Day Co-Sponsorship ($1000)
  • GUIDE Co-Sponsorship ($1000)
• Standardization of SPEC Jazz and Grooves and SPEC-TRUM Spring Concert with Fall Concerts, involving cutting:
  • $10,550 from SPEC Jazz and Grooves Spring Concert
  • $7,950 from SPEC-TRUM Spring Concert