Common Budget Concerns: (to be extended as people actually ask questions)


  1. How can I get a budget?

  2. Is my organization allowed to get a budget?

  3. Will SGA pay for _____ ?

  4. Who do I talk to if I have a special request?

  5. How many people can go to a conference/tournament?

  6. How many conferences/tournaments can I go to?

  7. How many Technique adds can I get?


Question 1: How can I get a budget?

Answer: Budget applications are available here. Simply fill out all the information an send the budget request to money@sga.gatech.edu. Your organization will be contacted in the future to answer questions about your budget. Once every organization has been questioned, JFC prepares a budget for the House and Senate of SGA (undergraduate and graduate bodies). The version that these bodies pass is the official version that grants budgets.


Question 2: Is my organization allowed to get a budget?

Answer: All organizations in good standing are eligible. This includes pending organizations. Note: If your organization is not in good standing, your Student Activity fee money will be placed on hold until good standing is reinstated.


Question 3: Will SGA pay for ____ ?

Answer: This question is better answered by stating that SGA can pay for anything that the state legislature hasn't made illegal. So, loans are the absolute limit on what fees won't be spent on. The established rule is that retroactive (after the event or previously paid) funding is not covered. JFC, as a financial recommendation body, has a number of other items that it will not recommend be funded. This list includes (but this is not the entire list):

  1. All organizations’ budgets are subject to the rules in this section.

    1. The following activities will not be funded in budgets:

      1. Partisan Political Activities

      2. Religious Activities

      3. Social Fraternal Activities

      4. Events with alcohol present

    2. The following will not be funded in budgets

      1. First-time events

      2. Capital expenditures with the exception of regularly purchased items or installment plan purchases.

      3. Dues for national affiliations

      4. Any miscellaneous expenses

      5. More than one periodical subscription, which must cost less than $100 and be stored at the library

      6. Books, music, or other media exceeding $100

      7. Newsletters exceeding one per meeting per member

      8. Awards of any kind

      9. Non-event-specific publicity in excess of $170

      10. Benefits for part-time employees

      11. Phone directory entries

      12. Postage in excess of $50

      13. Off-season competitions for sports clubs

      14. Recruitment activities

      15. Items unrelated to the primary purpose of the organization

      16. FASET materials

      17. Speaker Fees

      18. Any food-related items

      19. Any lodging


Question 4: Who do I talk to if I have a special request?

Answer: The Joint Finance Chair (money@sga.gatech.edu) can answer most financial questions. Additional assistance can be found in your elected representative.


Question 5: How many people can go to a conference/tournament?

Answer: JFC recommends funding an amount equal to the numbers below. Any number of people can go to a conference, but SGA does not have the resources to pay for everyone. The calculation is based on mileage, number of attendees, and amount for conference registration.


    1. Lodging and food will not be funded.

    2. Travel will be funded according to the following table

      # of Students

      Rate Per Mile

      Maximum Mileage

      Maximum Cost

      1-4

      $0.075

      6000

      450

      5-8

      $0.15

      5000

      750

      9-12

      $0.25

      4000

      1000

      13-28

      $0.50

      3000

      1500

      29-44

      $0.75

      3000

      2250

      45+

      $1.00

      3000

      3000

    3. Conference Registration Fees and travel will be funded for up to six members, up to $200 per individual and $1000 per conference.

    4. Tournament Registration Fees are done a per-team basis. Competitive teams that consist of many individuals participating in separate events may be funded for up to $200 per individual and $1000 per tournament.

    5. International travel shall be subject to the same restrictions outlined above.

    6. Individual undergraduates representing Georgia Tech may be funded from the Undergraduate Legislative Reserve at a maximum of $200. Individuals are expected to contact their departments first.

Question 6: How many people can go to a conference/tournament?

Answer: As many people as you want, but SGA will only pay registration costs (up to a limit) for 6 people.


Question 6: How many Technique adds can I get?

Answer: One per event.