The Government of the Student Body is preparing for the 2011 regular allocations cycle.

The projected funds for this year’s allocations process is $1,372,2445.60, which is down $13,765.35 from the 2010 allocations cycle.

Tom Danielson, GSB finance director and senior in civil engineering, said there are many factors contributing to the decrease in funds including a 1 percent increase to the Analysis of Social Services and Evaluation Team from last year.

ASSET is a partnership between the GSB, city of Ames, the State of Iowa Local Department of Human Services, Story County, and the Story County United way.

According to the GSB Web site, “Services include mental health, probation, shelter, battery, childcare, and legal services. Because GSB is a funder in this process, these services are offered to students at discounted rates or even possibly without charge,”

This year the GSB allocated $143,364 to the team.

Danielson, and Anthony Maly, a member of the finance committee, quickly counted forms that were turned in at the informational sessions and it was determined an estimated 146 groups were represented.

Danielson and Maly agreed this was a pretty standard number of groups going through the allocations process.

Now that the groups attended the informational sessions the online system to request budgets should be unlocked.

The GSB finance committee will be hosting budget help sessions on Feb. 6 from 1–3 p.m. in 1312 Hoover Hall, and Feb. 11 and Feb 12 from 5–7 p.m. in the West Student Office Space of the Memorial Union.

Budgets are due on Friday Feb. 12 at midnight, but will be accepted until Feb. 15 with a fine.

There are six allocation hearings set up for the groups going through the finance committee for allocations.

The hearings will be on Feb. 15, Feb. 20, Feb. 22, Feb. 27, March 1 and March 6.

Specific times for groups to attend will be assigned after their budgets are submitted.

The Sports Club Council allocation hearing will take place Feb. 20 from 8–5 p.m. in Gerdin.

The International Student Council hearings will be on Feb. 27 from 5–11 p.m. in the Memorial Union.

This is the first time the International Student Council will be allocating money.

The Council will be chaired by Danielson and will consist of five members from international student groups.

“There have been disputes in the past about GSB not understanding international students’ priorities … this should be a way to give them more freedom with their money,” Danielson said.

The budget balancing session, where the budget will be agreed upon by the finance committee will be on March 8 at 5 p.m.

The budget will then have to be approved by the GSB Senate.

The first read for the allocations budget will be on March 10, and the final read, which groups are encouraged to attend, will be on March 24 at 7 p.m.