Student organizations eligible for funding through regular allocations have requested a total of $1.6 million this year, up from last year’s requests, which totaled $1.4 million.

The Government of the Student Body finance committee has $1,307,909.99 available to allocate and needs to cut $281,275 from the requests. The senate passed a resolution that said it would be willing to pledge $20,000 toward the regular allocations process if the budget becomes tight and it is necessary to fund a program.

“The week after senate makes a decision on the regular allocations funding, they will then make a decision on what we call our ‘Big Picture Bill,’” said Tom Danielson, GSB finance director and senior in civil engineering. “This bill delineates what our account balances will be for next year. It is with this bill that senate will decide how much to pledge or none at all to the regular allocations process.”

Even if the senate decides to donate funds, the finance committee will still need to cut $261,275.

Danielson said groups such as the Committee on Lectures and Student Legal Services typically request the most money. Student Legal Services requested $249,560 this year.

Of the student organizations, Veishea consistently requests the most funding through regular allocations.

The Student Union Board requested $39,165 this year, which is just short of Veishea’s request of $48,840. This is the first year SUB has requested funding from GSB through regular allocations.

In the past, SUB’s budget has been allocated through the Memorial Union, said Kyle Wiebers, president of SUB and junior in management information systems.

“We also receive some revenue from ticket sales through ticket events in the Maintenance Shop,” Wiebers said.

George Micalone, director of student activities, said SUB would continue to receive funds through the Memorial Union, despite being funded by GSB. He said that although they are anticipating budget reductions, he is confident they will still be able to provide a consistent level of programming.

Wiebers said the Memorial Union is not excluded from the budget cuts faced by the entire university.

“We are unsure of how much our budget is getting cut, but we are trying to take preemptive measures so we can offer the same quality and quantity of free programs for students to enjoy,” he said.

Requesting to be funded by GSB through regular allocations is one of those preemptive measures, he said.

Micalone said SUB didn’t request this budget in the past because they weren’t aware they were eligible.

“In recent conversations with GSB we realized we were able to request and decided to proceed with requesting money for programs outside of our film series and concerts in the M-Shop,” Wiebers said.

Wiebers said the requested money would go toward programs that will provide students with high-quality entertainment free of charge.

“In addition to the entertainment funding, we requested the maximum allowable amounts per criteria based on our membership numbers,” he said.

The senate will vote on the budget at the senate meeting on March 25.

GSB holds weekly open meetings at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Campanile room of the Memorial Union.

Where the money comes from

GSB brings in close to $1.6 million in student fee revenue.

Each student pays approximately $33 per semester that ultimately helps to fund over 140 student organizations.

GSB began its regular allocations cycle Feb. 19 and will hold its third allocation hearing Thursday.

Any group that doesn’t receive money from an academic college or isn’t represented by a constituency council or housing area and isn’t supporting political policies or candidacies is eligible for funding through regular allocations, said Tom Danielson, GSB finance director and senior in civil engineering.

The organization requesting funds is required to attend an informational session prior to the regular allocation cycle.