USG announces surplus in budget, dispels fears

By TRACY WILSON
Collegian Staff Writer

The financial situation for the Undergraduate Student Government has improved since the last USG Senate meeting.

Including outstanding bills, account records show USG has $6,947.14 in its unrestricted senate account, which is used for spending, USG Treasurer Evan Breslow said.

In its unrestricted business account, which is used for fundraising, USG has $23,332.56, he said.

During the past few weeks, some confusion has surrounded the state of the USG treasury. Poor internal communication in the USG Senate was the main reason for the budget concerns, USG President Caroline Casagrande said.

"People are speaking without knowing what's going on," she said.

The complication of the USG account system leads to misinformation as well, Breslow said.

"USG is set up differently from any other organization," he said. "There are six or seven accounts and some of them flip-flop between us and (the Association of Residence Hall Students)."

USG Senate needed to fund a number of high-cost items recently, which caused alarm about the budget, South Halls Senator Megan Turnbull said.

Revenue from the USG spring break bus sales accounted for some of the increase, Casagrande said.

The USG account surplus is news to some senators.

"There's not a surplus. People are saying there's a surplus, but I don't think there is," USG Senate President John Wood said.

Most of USG's money is raised through calendar sales and Thanksgiving, Easter, and winter and spring break bus ticket sales, Wood said. USG also receives operating funds from the student activity fee, he said. USG does not receive any money from the university.

"We're not out of money, but things are on the tight side," Wood said. "Senate needs to take a look at how they spend money. They can't be spending money on frivolous things."