DSG approves nearly $500,000 dollars in funding during first reading of annual budget

Duke Student Government approved $498,159.73 in funding from the total $869,548.80 requested during their first reading of the annual budget audit during their Wednesday meeting. This was nearly $100,000 over the $400,000.00 available in the fund. 

Unlike the Student Organization Finance Committee Programming Fund, the annual budget funds are allocated once a year to be used the following academic year. The funds may be used by student groups for line items that are “essential to a [group’s] presence on campus,” according to SOFC's website. This could include “the purchase of reusable items like costumes, competition/conference funding and group retreats.”

Senators conducted a first reading from a compiled list of 709 requests from all groups eligible for funding. During this initial reading, senators were limited to technical questions, leaving deliberation for a later reading.

Because annual budget funds are used for essential items, many requests for funding were reduced or redirected to sources such as the SOFC Programming Fund or the University Publication Board’s Bassett Fund. 

During the discussion after the first reading, senators debated potential areas to cut down funding allocations. Proposed areas to cut down included general board meetings, nonessential equipment and travel expenses.  Senators will review the annual budget for any additional items to cut before returning next Wednesday to bring the budget down to the fund’s maximum.

In other business

Senators allocated $4,743.05 for Delta Sigma Theta’s Delta Week, $5,663.21 for the Catholic Center’s Easter Brunch and $4,390.52 for the Persian Students Association’s Sizdah Beh Dar with Max Amini.

DSG also allotted $22,465 from its general funds to Duke Student Affairs, funding a Final Four Watch Party at Cameron Indoor Stadium this Saturday, April 2.

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