Decatur SAF budget hearing

Posted: April 10, 2012 at 6:50 pm

Updated: April 10, 2012 at 3:55 pm

By Kierra Johnson

 

On Friday, March 23rd, every campus of GPC had a budget hearing to determine how much money would be given to different clubs and groups.

Although it sounds simple, the process of dividing the money in GPC’s budget is very intricate.

First, every group must have a representative come to the hearing to make a five minute presentation about the money that is requested.

Then, for another five minutes members of SGA ask questions about the items that concern them.

From the money used for refreshments served at JAG events, to the fees that have to be paid for speakers to visit the school, every single dime that is needed is listed.

According to Oliver Peterson, SGA president at Decatur campus, this is just the beginning of the process, “The amount of money being requested is much more than the money we have. The goal of this meeting is to filter through the amount that has been requested.”

While some groups are asking for money to continue their usual activities, some groups need money just to stay afloat. TRIO, which is a tutoring service for underprivileged students, has suffered major cuts because of budget issues in the White House.

Due to the loss of money TRIO had to lay off a couple of tutors.

Dr. Bozeman, head of the HONORS program at Decatur campus, needs much more money to recruit students. “The honors program at Decatur is much less prominent,” he said. “Clarkston has two hundred honors students and Decatur has about nineteen. I need funding to recruit students who have not yet completed the classes that can be taken as honors classes.”
The groups and clubs that have submitted budget requests may vary in size and influence, but the decision for funds to be granted is completely up to the members of SGA.

Oliver Peterson, who reminded every representative of the situation at hand, constantly reiterated, “There is no group that is more important than the other. Each request means just as much as the other.”