[164] in UA Senate
Re: 41UAS2.3: Bill to Authorize the Treasurer to Reallocate Money to Student Groups
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Alexandra Jordan)
Mon Oct 19 22:25:27 2009
Cc: Ted Hilk <thilk@mit.edu>, Alex Dehnert <adehnert@mit.edu>,
UA Senate <ua-senate@mit.edu>
From: Alexandra Jordan <amjordan@MIT.EDU>
To: Paul Youchak <youchakp@mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <4ADD1DBA.7010002@mit.edu>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:25:09 -0400
Response to Paul:
I agree that committees could find that a project can't be =20
implemented, or that they no longer want to implement it, but since =20
Senate budgeted money for said project, Senate should be informed and =20=
able to approve the reallocation of these funds. I don't want to take =20=
the right of Committee Chairs to use their discretion on projects, but =20=
rather I don't want to formally exclude Senate from deciding to change =20=
project funding.
I'm not worried about the Treasurer unilaterally changing committee =20
budgets mid-semester. I'm worried about putting a piece of legislation =20=
in place that practically guarantees that next year's chairs will have =20=
a precedent of lower budgets and will thus have to work much harder to =20=
ask for increased allocations. As I said before, Senate usually =20
relies on precedent when approving allocations, so this would almost =20
ensure a more difficult budget approval for many committees.
Alex
On Oct 19, 2009, at 10:17 PM, Paul Youchak wrote:
> I am responding to both Alex and Ted here...
>
> Committees may fund for a project and later find out is is either =20
> not possible or not desirable. Committees may think a project is a =20=
> good idea but they will not really know, for whatever reason, that =20
> their idea should be implemented until they have tried. Committee's =20=
> can make mistakes about what they want to do in the upcoming =20
> semester, especially since they are budgeted for so far in advance. =20=
> If a committee cannot fulfill their obligation for the project then =20=
> it is acceptable to remove the line. In my mind there are not =20
> separate issues.
>
> Having the reallocation of money be reversible makes no sense. The =20=
> committee leader should not release the money unless they are 100% =20
> sure they wont need it. Secondly, if they find they have changed =20
> their mind it is always possible to ask for more money from =20
> discretionary. I don't think this will ever happen, so its not a =20
> very strong objection to the bill.
>
> The treasurer does by no means have the right to reduce a committees =20=
> budget mid semester. If you are afraid of the committee being =20
> overruled by the committee chair then we can say the committee must =20=
> unanimously (2/3, whatever) approve of the reallocation of funds. I =20=
> however, think you are more concerned with the power in the =20
> treasurer. Remember, the Senate still has ultimate control because =20=
> we do now have the right reverse his decision.
>
> Note, this bill will only last for this year unless we decide to =20
> renew it.
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> Ted Hilk wrote:
>>
>> That the Treasurer may reallocate funds from one part of the UA
>> budget to the pool of funds that
>> the Finance Board helps allocate to student groups for the next
>> funding period;
>>
>>
>> Regarding this pool: if the applicable committee chair later =20
>> decides that this decision was made in error, is there any way for =20=
>> it to be reversed? Given that the money is allocated to a "pool of =20=
>> funds" rather than directly to the groups (hence implying some time =20=
>> delay before the money is actually out of UA's control), shouldn't =20=
>> such reversal be an option? If not, why not?
>>
>> That such reallocations must be approved by the committee chair or
>> other officer in charge of the
>> budget area losing said funds;
>>
>>
>> Would it be possible to clarify, in the text of the bill, which =20
>> specific positions are allowed to do this for which specific budget =20=
>> areas? I feel that the existing wording is a bit vague, given the =20=
>> powers involved.
>>
>> That the Senate, Finance Board, and [a]affected Chair must be
>> informed of each such reallocation;
>>
>>
>> Is there a reason why this line does not say "by the next meeting =20
>> of the Senate"? While understanding the importance of delegation, =20=
>> I believe that timely information is necessary to allow for review =20=
>> of the decisions.
>>
>> Finally, I would like to note that I'm not by any means opposed to =20=
>> the principle of this bill. I agree that leftover money from our =20
>> operations should go to student groups. I just want to make sure =20
>> that Senate exercises caution in doing so, and more time for =20
>> discussion was necessary to meet this aim.
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Ted Hilk
>> EC Senator
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 9:18 PM, Alex Dehnert <adehnert@mit.edu =
<mailto:adehnert@mit.edu=20
>> >> wrote:
>>
>> Since we postponed this a week...
>>
>> If you have questions: Please ask them explicitly. Otherwise, no
>> guarantee that you'll get an answer... I'm not psychic.
>>
>> I'll probably put together some more information shortly, but I
>> encourage some discussion to happen here besides that.
>>
>> ~~Alex
>>
>>
>> Alex Dehnert wrote:
>>
>> I wrote a bill which is available at
>> =
http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS41/2/moving-money/moving-money.pdf=20
>> .
>>
>> The bill authorizes the treasurer to:
>> * reallocate funds from a committee to the pool of funds that
>> the Finance Board helps allocate to student groups for the
>> next funding period; and
>> * Requires that such reallocations be approved by the
>> committee chair losing said funds; and
>> * That the Senate, Finance Board, and affected Chair must be
>> informed of each such reallocation; and
>> * That such authorization shall expire at the end of the
>> 2009=962010 fiscal year unless renewed by Senate.
>>
>> I'm happy to answer any questions that you have. It would be
>> awesome if we can get most questions out *before* Senate, so
>> that Senate can be short without being much less effective.
>>
>> ~~Alex
>>
>>
>>
__________________________________
Alexandra Jordan
MIT 2011
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science
Political Science
amjordan@mit.edu
916.813.7740
