The JSC Student Government Association began the current academic year with a sharply reduced budget, down by nearly a third from those in recent years.

The current budget of $40,000 is $20,000 less than it has been in past years. With a 30 percent decrease, the SGA has struggled to hammer out a realistic budget while maintaining its customary functions.

Part of the budget’s decrease is related to this year’s decline in student enrollment. Money for the SGA budget comes directly from student tuition, so fewer students clearly means fewer dollars for the SGA.

As the JSC website notes, “Each full-time student is required to pay an annual activity fee. The SGA uses these funds to help finance student clubs, media, and organizations, as well as weekly entertainment and special events.”

This activity fee is currently $246 for each student.

The budget itself is split into two categories. The first section of the budget, $23,000, is devoted to line items. These include events such as casino night and the ALLY dinner, as well as mini-grants, scholarships, WJSC and Basement Medicine. In total, this makes up 57.5% of the total budget.

 The second section, $16,000, is devoted to funds and expenses. This includes club and match funds, office expenses and senate projects. This makes up 40% of the total budget.

The remaining 2.5 percent provides a $1,000 support cushion that each SGA president has set aside for a number of years.

“This year we have taken from it to donate for fundraisers and community events,” said SGA President Nasser Abdel-Fatah “Another purpose of it is to serve as a backup in case one of the listed line items runs low on money.”

The largest section of the SGA budget is devoted to senate projects. These projects are allotted $9,000, which is 22.5 percent of the budget and is intended for use in plans such as the up-coming creation of designated covered smoking areas.

The next largest section of the budget, 10 percent each or $4,000, goes to WJSC and mini-grants for student trips.

The current SGA budget is available in the SGA office.