In Layman's terms
SGA lacks budgeting oversight
Brad Lyons
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Voices
I've been hearing a lot of grumbling from students lately about SGA budgeting. I realize that last week, we ran a story that put a lot of these issues to rest. However, I have one grumble that just wasn't resolved.
After a week's worth of research and looking at old SGA budgets and some interviews, it has become apparent to me that there is very little formal university oversight when it comes to the SGA budgeting management.
Each year, our student government receives a student fee of $269 per student, with enrollment at roughly 1,550 students. That puts the total right around $416,000, which is an astounding amount of money for one organization to handle.
Drury is one of the few universities in the country that doesn't compensate its executive council with some sort of scholarship or other compensation. Now I understand that these elected students represent our interests, but balancing a budget that large with no compensation would be a demanding task for any of us (I feel sorry for our SGA Vice President of Finance).
It has to be a thankless task to come in mid-school year to a budget that may or may not be correct and try to balance everything out, with success of the process depending on a predecessor's commitment to the job.
The Dean of Students does have access to the student treasury information, but there is no formal process by which to audit or regulate SGA's treasury, and SGA is simply audited at the same time as the university.
In Layman's Terms: I feel like there should be some sort of oversight committee, possibly made up of students, faculty and staff to hold SGA accountable for the thousands of dollars that we as students have entrusted to them.
After a week's worth of research and looking at old SGA budgets and some interviews, it has become apparent to me that there is very little formal university oversight when it comes to the SGA budgeting management.
Each year, our student government receives a student fee of $269 per student, with enrollment at roughly 1,550 students. That puts the total right around $416,000, which is an astounding amount of money for one organization to handle.
Drury is one of the few universities in the country that doesn't compensate its executive council with some sort of scholarship or other compensation. Now I understand that these elected students represent our interests, but balancing a budget that large with no compensation would be a demanding task for any of us (I feel sorry for our SGA Vice President of Finance).
It has to be a thankless task to come in mid-school year to a budget that may or may not be correct and try to balance everything out, with success of the process depending on a predecessor's commitment to the job.
The Dean of Students does have access to the student treasury information, but there is no formal process by which to audit or regulate SGA's treasury, and SGA is simply audited at the same time as the university.
In Layman's Terms: I feel like there should be some sort of oversight committee, possibly made up of students, faculty and staff to hold SGA accountable for the thousands of dollars that we as students have entrusted to them.
Article last update: 2/2/10 at 8:36 PM CST
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