USG Spending
I. Introduction
The best way to start understanding spending in Undergraduate Student Government is to see where we get our money. USG gets it from two primary sources: 1) The Student Activity Fee and 2) the Coke Grant. The activity fee is rather self explanatory, with each student paying a small fee that helps CSA and USG fund different events and organizations throughout the year. The Coke grant is a product of the university's contract with Coca-Cola, and mostly pertains to food and beverage costs, though it can be used for other purposes as well.
II. Beginnings
So now that the money is in USG's hands, how do we allocate it? Simple: the President and Vice-President, along with every cabinet director, create a consensus budget each quarter, which includes all expenses anticipated for that period, along with funds for the Senate to allocate to student organizations.
The Treasurer helps this process by providing advice on how to allocate money, as well as by providing information on previous budgets and spending patterns. Once the money has been allocated, the Treasurer processes the paperwork and keeps a record of USG's finances throughout the quarter.
III. Payment
While having a budget is all well and good, the real excitement of government is actually spending money! Disbursements to student organizations can be given to an official, registered, OSU student organization. First, all senate spending must be done through a spending bill. All cabinet spending must be initiated through a cabinet director and subjected to the approval of the president or his/her designee. Furthermore, all spending projects in excess of $1500 initiated by the executive branch without a specific line item in the budget must be approved by senate. A senator must also submit a USG Projected Budget before submitting a spending bill to senate. This way, we do our best to keep a close eye on payments.
Though USG does its best to assist students through financial contributions and innovative programs, it can't spend everything on its own. Please, feel free to contact any USG representative with questions about how to apply for funding for your organization!
IV. Obtaining Funding From USG
USG Senate sets aside so much money per quarter to be distributed to student organizations. These funds are considered supplemental funding for any event. Primary funding is through the SOURCE at the Ohio Union. If a student organization still requires additional money for an event that is the time in which USG may be approached along with any college that the group may be tied to, coke grants, residence hall councils, private donations, etc.
The best way to begin the funding process is to talk to any senator within USG (which are listed in the senate section of the website). They will be able to inform you in more detail how the process works and what information is needed from your group to enter the process. In general, once a senator has received the request they will talk to the organization. Once they gain better knowledge of the event, they will write a bill or a piece of legislation asking for the amount the group still requires. The bill will be forwarded to the committee on budget and finance where it will be reviewed and passed, changed, or failed. If changed or passed the bill then continues to the main senate to be voted on a final time. The process usually takes about two weeks. If the bill is passed by the senate; USG will then REIMBURSE the organization that amount of money once valid receipts are handed in for that amount. Funding is not the primary function of USG, however it is a service that it is proud to be able to provide for student organizations that wish to put on great events around campus.