Student government budget

Current members of ASO detail organizationʼs financial status

“These videos can potentially help student athletes move on to the next level and get scholarships,” Bender said.

JAMES STEWART Roundup Reporter @jmstewartrn

The Associated Students Organization, with a $1 million reserve, provides funding and support for students and faculty on campus.

The ASO currently has a budget of approximately $32,000. Unused funds are sent to the reserves at the end of the semester. The ASO receives its money from the $1 fee all students pay during registration, the $7 dues fee required from students who join the ASO, and fundraising efforts.

At the beginning of the spring semester, the ASO had a working budget of around $40,000, of which they have used about $8,000. The working budget is used to fund on-campus activities, the hiring of aides, and other events sponsored by the ASO.

According to ASO President Alex Oloo, a financial request form must be filed to receive funds from the organization.

“The finance committee sits every Thursday looking at all the papers presented to them and makes a recommendation to the ASO senate to make the decision,” Oloo said.

The organization’s reserves amount to about $1 million but cannot be used unless a budget request sheet is filled out, submitted and approved.

ASO recently received funding requests for electronic equipment for the men’s volleyball team and to fund the annual ASO banquet.

The men’s volleyball team’s recent request for $1,202.80 to buy two iPad Airs and two GoPros to capture game footage and player statistics was tabled at this week’s meeting. Michael Bender, criminal justice senator, said that these items would be owned by ASO and be accessible for any department to use.

ASO’s recent request for $1700 to fund the annual banquet, scheduled for June 5th, was approved. ASO members, however, questioned if this was a good use of money and if allocating it to the student body would be of better use.

The reserve is used when the ASO believes a necessary expense may exceed the discretionary budget, and might affect the working budget.

ASO Treasurer Michael McGee said the organization recently set aside funds from the reserve and intends to hire a new staff member to oversee the ASO office.

“Recently we took out from the reserves for hiring a staff member to oversee the ASO,” McGee said.