Government of the Student Body funding to community social services has been cut and redistributed.

GSB allocates money to a variety of student and human service groups every year; however, drops in enrollment and tuition increases this year, among other reasons, has caused money to be redistributed within the groups.

Dan Becker, GSB treasurer, said money is allocated according to a list of priorities. A list of GSB finance priorities can be found at the GSB Web site.

One of the groups, Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team, will receive less in redistributed funding.

The overall dollar amount allocated to ASSET for 2005 has been reduced to $135,000 from $157,879 in 2004.

ASSET is comprised of several human service organizations, including University Community Childcare.

Becker said 40 percent of the allocated money is earmarked for University Community Childcare since its services are used by ISU students.

Groups like ChildServe will receive less funding because ISU students use this service less.

“[ChildServe’s] outcome said they served four ISU students,” Becker said.

“Their executive director said he didn’t even know if those are all ISU kids; some of them might have been faculty.”

Becker said certain groups show consistent use by ISU students, and GSB tries to consistently fund such organizations.

Although GSB has had to cut funds, he said, it has also been able to redistribute money more accurately to meet student needs.

According to GSB documents, Ames Community Preschool Center is the hardest hit by the redistribution, receiving $7,294 less than last year.

Center for Addictions Recovery Inc. is helped most by the redistribution and is receiving $433 more than last year.

Kristi Kramer, finance director for GSB, said funding individual ASSET groups instead of a flat allotment for the whole better serves ISU students.

“We can specifically look at what students are interested in and what they benefit from,” Kramer said. “We plan on funding ASSET groups based on these student needs.”