SGA budget brings disappointment for some

Caitlin Randle/Contributing Writer

The Student Government Association had almost $3 million more to work into the budget this year than they did the previous year – some organizations benefited, while others still faced cuts in spite of the added funding.

The SGA budget added up to $18,668,921 for the 2016-2017 school year. Last year’s budget was $15,852,689.

“The amount of money that FIU provides for the budget depends on the University’s enrollment,” said Gabriela Millan, Student Government Council Comptroller for the Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

“The money allocated for the SGA budget comes from the per-credit charge that every student pays for their activities and services fees,” Millan said.

Because of the larger budget, several organizations received more funds this year than they received last year.

Career Services received over $500,000 more than last year for a total of $621,207. The increase was because “the governor has a new performance metric,” according to Millan.

“A performance metric is basically an average of the jobs students get after they graduate,” Millan said. “Based off of that measurement is how universities get funding because of the new performance metric, they received more funding to accommodate for those changes.”

The number of graduates who find work after graduation is one of 10 metrics the state uses to determine a university’s funding, according to the Florida Board of Governors’ Performance Funding Model available on their website. Starting this school year, universities must score at least 51 points on a 100-point scale and not be in the bottom three in order to receive new funding.

Millan said Career Services will use the additional money to hire more employees to improve the counselor-to-student ratio.

Besides Career Services, SGA, Center for Leadership and Service and Women’s Center were among those that received additional funding this year.

The SGA received almost $1 million more for operating expenses and almost $1,500,000 more for student recreation centers, according to the budget.

However, several organizations including the Multi-Faith Council, Student Bar Association Organization, and Student Programming Council all received less funding this year.

The Model UN received about $12,000 less this year, in spite of ranking fourth in the country for the second year in a row. They also received $15,000 less last year than they did during the 2014-2015 school year.

“The SGA has its priorities,” said Model UN Director Ethan Roberts.

According to Roberts, the decrease in funding means less students will be able to go to academic conferences.

“The average cost per student is about $600, so that’s 20 less students who can go now,” Roberts said, which he believes ultimately could have a negative effect on FIU.

“It’s less prestige for the University,” Roberts said. “Less networks created by the program.”

But despite the potential negative ramifications, Millan believes the budget cuts were necessary.

“In the past year, there were budget cuts that had to happen in order to fund as many departments and organizations as possible and keep the student experience lively,” Millan said.