Financial Procedures Act

USF St. Petersburg Student Government

Section 1:  Budget Code.

Student Government will formulate policy and procedure pertaining to all

student activities, functions, and benefits funded by Activity and Service Fees monies, in accordance with Activity and Service Fee guidelines dictated by the Florida State Legislature and other regulatory bodies.

Student Government shall be the regulatory body dispensing Activity and

Service Fee monies at USF St. Petersburg, to include all such Activity and Service Fee monies generated by USF St. Petersburg.

Section 2:  Budget Committee Membership.

1. The budget Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer.  There shall be at least two members on the Budget Committee; they shall be appointed by the chairperson from within the members of Student Government and be approved by the Student Government President.
2. The in-coming treasurer-elect shall assist the out-going treasurer and Budget Committee in the preparation of the new fiscal budget.

Section 3:  Budget Request Forms.

All student organizations shall present the appropriate Budget Request forms to the Student Government Budget Committee.  Forms must be in by the designated deadline given by the Budget Committee at the beginning of the academic year to the student organizations.  Forms will be made available electronically and should be submitted electronically when at all possible. 

All other recipients of Activity and Service Fees monies (other than student organizations) will present the appropriate Budget Request forms to the Student Government Budget Committee by the designated deadline to be considered for an allocation for the fiscal year of July 1 through June 30.

All Budget Requests will be itemized.  Requests will be evaluated in accordance with the Budget Guidelines (below) and then forwarded to Student Government with a specific allocation proposal.  Non-itemized budget requests will be returned with no action taken.

Section 5: Budget Guidelines.

1. The nature and expense of the proposed activities.
2. The request in proportion to the funding of other Activity and Service Fee funded activities to its own most previous allocations.
3. The past stability and productivity of the Activity and Service Fee recipient.
4. The benefit of the proposed activities to the student body, the university, and to the community.
5. Any cover letter or additional data, which may be made available by the Activity and Service Fee recipient.
6. Regarding student organizations: The number of current student members, the number of persons in attendance at the past activities, which are most similar to the proposed activities, and/or the estimated attendance for the proposed activities.

Section 6.  Budget Process          

Requests for additional Activity and Service Fee monies will be subject to the approval of Student Government.  Budget Request forms will be presented to the Student Government Budget Committee at a Budget Hearing prior to any action by Student Government.  The Chairman will determine the validity appropriateness, and practically of all requests for Activities and Service Fee allocations using the Treasurer’s Handbook for this determination prior to

submitting requests to the Student Government body for consideration.

1. The Budget Committee chairperson will present any student organization requests to Student Government after a Budget Committee Hearing.  The chairperson will at that time make a recommendation to Student Government on behalf of the Budget Committee.
2. Requests for additional funds from Activity and Service Fee recipients (other than student organizations) will present the appropriate Budget Request Form to the Student Government Budget Committee at a Budget Committee Hearing prior to any action by Student Government.  The Budget Committee chairperson will present any requests to Student Government on the appropriate form, signed by the authorized university Student Affairs staff member and the requesting student (if any).
3. The Student Government Treasurer may request to review all cash vouchers, payments in all forms, and requests for disbursements of Activity and Service Fee monies exceeding $200.00.
4. The Student Government Budget Committee chairperson shall make a report at least every thirty days during the legislative session regarding the expenditures of each Activity and Service Fee recipient.
5. If justified, Student Government may reallocate any Activity and Service Fee funds, with the exception of Student Government budget line positions.
6. Student Government defines “justified and appropriate action” as any act, policy, or process which Student Government initiates to uphold or defend its constitution or supporting documents.