SAC approves largest annual budget in years

SAC approves largest annual budget in years

By Christine Higgins · The Johns Hopkins News-Letter · April 26, 2006

The Student Activities Committee (SAC) approved an annual budget Monday for the 2006-2007 academic year that increases the amount of funding allocated to groups on a yearly basis while significantly reducing the amount reserved for groups that will come to the committee for funding next year.

The SAC funds a number of student groups on campus on an immediate-need basis. Conventionally, the committee has imposed a policy of reserving $100,000 for funding these groups throughout the course of the year. But according to the 2006-2007 annual budget announcement made Monday night, only $58,000 will be allocated for these requests, as well as for the unforeseen requests of groups who have been granted an annual budget but could potentially return for additional funding.

Student Council Executive Treasurer and SAC Chair Alice Li was unavailable for comment.

The SAC is counting on an increase in available funding next year both from money that wasn't distributed to groups this year, which they hope will "roll over," as well as from audits intended to repossess funds gone unused by student groups.

Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell suggested that both were possible: "There has not been an occasion when I have considered taking funding back from the SAC. Therefore, there should be no reason why they shouldn't count on this year's rollover as well. If there is a significant amount of money returned in audits, that may raise questions about whether or not funding is being allocated properly, but that wouldn't mean immediate action should be taken against the SAC."

James Almond, the budget student services coordinator, suggested that rollover funding could potentially amount to $42,000. But he added that, in recent years, the SAC has held to the self-imposed policy of reserving $100,000 for immediate-need funding independent of any rollover or audit funding it might receive.

Almond also pointed out that it is unusual for groups whose budgets are annually allocated to seek much financing the following year. "There was no difference in the process of annual allocations [this year] except for a significant increase in groups who needed annual funding," he said. "The SAC decided that accommodating their needs now was in the students' best interest. It is rare to see annually budgeted groups requesting auxiliary funding during the academic year."

Barnstormers Business Manager Joseph Micali agreed that this year's SAC funding, as opposed to past years, was adequate. "As a result of how much we received this year, we probably won't be going to the SAC for more funding next year."

College Democrats Treasurer Cassius Sims disagreed, saying, "I have a distinct feeling that we will be petitioning for more funding next year, especially since we have a hotly contested race in the fall and we hope to be active in it. We have not, however, decided to pursue any further funding requests as of yet."

Sirens Treasurer Casey Kimbell agreed with Sims, explaining that she has always been concerned about the group not receiving enough funding. "We'll definitely need more funding for travel. The SAC only allows you to apply for one road trip per semester, which is really limiting for a capella groups who usually take more," she said. "So we're going to either reapply with SAC or find funding elsewhere."

A number of student groups have repeatedly expressed concern that the reason the SAC is often forced to under-supply or deny funding requests is because they are not receiving enough money from the Office of Student Life.

Boswell said in response that her office has responded adequately to the needs of student groups on campus. "The amount of money given to SAC is incrementally increased and need has been continually meet. The situation is consistently being monitored."

Almond is confident in the success of the SAC's current allocation system. "Unlike last year, the application process for annual budgets was carefully monitored by the SAC. The only times when student groups receive less funding than they require is when they fail to provide the correct number of quotas, or other forms," he said. "This time around, on the day the final budgets were due, someone checked to verify all of the proper paperwork was filed, which ensured an accurate report of student need."

Boswell is unsure about how these changes will affect student life. "We'll have to wait and see how it plays out. Perhaps there is some wisdom in ensuring that a whole program is defined for the upcoming year and will require student groups to operate in a more organized manner," she said.