The student government opened up their community chest and handed out thousands of dollars in funding to student groups in their first budget decisions of the year Thursday night.
The Associated Students of Madison Student Services Finance Committee approved budgets for Vets for Vets, F. H. King and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
SSFC allocated MEChA $64,476.90, down $4,693.35 from the group’s 2010-11 budget.
The committee debated MEChA’s food expenses for their Day of the Dead celebration before approving the final budget.
Representative Cale Plamann said the group’s request for $500 was too expensive considering only 100 people would be attending the event and it would only be one meal. He added he could not justify spending that much money per person on food especially when they were going to cook the food themselves.
Representative Aliyya Terry disagreed with Plamann and said the request was reasonable and fiscally responsible.
“It’s tough to find a meal for $5, even if you are just going to a local fast food place,” Terry said.
MEChA Publicity Coordinator Ismael Cuevas said it was hard to find cultural food at local grocery stores and added they have to buy the ingredients from restaurants.
F.H. King received $62,461.45 for next year, up $1,991.16 from this year’s budget.
F.H King Finance Director Isaac Sinnott said he felt really good after their budget was approved, and he agreed with the committee’s decision to strike $500 dollars from their original request for rent.
Sinnott added even though they requested more money this year, it is a good investment because they give almost $50,000 dollars in organic produce back to campus.
Vets for Vets received $36,382 for the next fiscal year, up $11,332.40 from this year.
The committee approved additional money for the group to purchase a new computer and software because their aging equipment was becoming a financial liability.
Newly sworn in Representative Rae Lymer said the group had been swapping out their out of date computers for slightly newer, but still out of date computers in the past. She said this is quite inefficient, and purchasing a new computer would be more cost effective.
SSFC Chair Matt Manes said the committee working with Vets for Vets to upgrade their computers was a perfect example of how he hopes SSFC can work with student groups to craft the best budgets.
“It’s really all about communication and understanding what [student groups’] needs are and setting them up for the best year possible in a fiscally responsible way,” Manes said.
SSFC also heard presentations from Greater University Tutoring Service and Student Leadership Programs.
Both group’s budget decisions will be announced at the Nov. 1 SSFC meeting.
SSFC has given out $163,320.35 in funding for budgets so far this year.
