Senate approves 2006-07 budget
The student senate approved the budget for the fiscal year 2006-07 on Sunday, allocating more than $2 million to various student organizations.
A full gallery with representatives from a myriad of organizations accompanied the senators and executives at the meeting to provide information about their individual budgets.
New procedures for submitting budgets caused slight confusion among the student organizations, often resulting in missing a required budget hearing.
James Foertsch, finance commissioner, said the major change from last year was that budgets could be submitted online.
It was designed to be easier for both the finance commission and individual organizations, as it is easier to keep track of computer files than numerous paper copies of a budget, Foertsch said.
Organizations were still required to attend a budget hearing, but because so many submitted their budgets online, they forgot to sign up for one of two weekends of budget hearings.
The only additional requirement student organizations had to meet was to attend a budget education meeting that was scheduled specifically to convey the new process to organizations, Foertsch said.
Last year, every student organization received cuts across the board due to a deficit in the funds. This year, a surplus existed, making the budgeting process a little easier for the senate.
Foertsch also said the finance commission followed new guidelines for designating money to Tier 2 organizations based on their Congress of Student Organizations rating.
“ (Organizations) were rewarded for staying at a higher level,” Foertsch said.
The commission recommended 100 percent funding for organizations with a CSO rating of 5, and then cut 5 or 15 percent for a CSO rating of 4 or 3, respectively. Organizations with a CSO rating of 2 or 1 were deemed ineligible to receive funding.
Foertsch said while the finance commission followed the guidelines, it was up to the senators to decide whether to approve the recommendation.
“ The senate weighs the recommendation against the merit of the organization,” Foertsch said.
The scenario played out during the meeting when the senate debated funding ThunderRadio at $5,000 more than the recommended guidelines.
The amount caused unrest among the senators, with some voicing concern over placing ThunderRadio at a different level than the rest of the Tier 2 organizations.
Josh Reimnitz, high-rise/LLC senator and ThunderRadio assistant general manager, answered questions senators had about what the money was going to be used for. A large portion of the budget was allotted to purchase equipment to keep the station up-to-date.
Nick Rogers, off-campus senator, questioned the necessity of giving them so much money when every student organization needs equipment to continue functioning.
Senators also questioned how much of a service the station provides to students, as there is no way to gauge how many students listen to ThunderRadio.
James Klein, graduate studies senator, defended the radio and what it provides to students, noting its coverage of athletic events.
“ There are a lot of sporting events I can’t make it to, but if I can listen to if for free (on ThunderRadio), I sure will,” Klein said.
The final budget total of $6,738 for ThunderRadio passed by a margin of only five votes.
The official minutes from the meeting, as well as the budgets from individual student organizations, are online at www.ndsu.edu/bisonweb/senate.