Money Matters: How UF Student Government Spends Your Money

It would be no exaggeration to say that money is an issue that is paramount to college students. Every semester, students owe thousands in tuition payments to the university. For the most part, students have little to no say on how that money is utilized by the university. However, Student Government (SG) offers students an opportunity to have a voice in how some of that money is spent. Students can vote on senators who represents both their college and residence, senators who work to decide how SG spends its money. SG plays a massive role in providing funding towards clubs and other student activities. Regardless of whether they vote or not, each student will play hundreds of dollars towards student government. Naturally, the question becomes, how are my fellow students spending the money we contribute? In this post we’ll highlight the current SG budget and recent historical trends in SG spending, to show how student money is being spent.

Budget Breakdown

Here is a link to the full 2020-21 SG Budget: https://sg.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-1071_FY_2020-2021_AS_Fee_Budget.pdf

For the 2020-21 fiscal year UF’s Student government worked with total budget of $22,087,482, which equates to a $379 contribution per student. This total budget is distributed among the “Big Three” general funding recipients. These three are: Reitz Union and Student Activities & Involvement, Recreational Sports, and the Student Government Budget.

Reitz Union and Student Activities and Involvement

The budget for the Reitz Union and Student Activities & Involvement (SAI) for the 20-21 year is $8,203,015. This funding helps to cover a variety of Reitz Union and SAI related costs. The Reitz Union of course makes some of its own revenue, largely through Activity & Service fees, which helps with the expenditures. Over half of the Union’s funding (~$7.4 million) is allocated towards paying the salaries of both fulltime and student workers within the Reitz and SAI, with roughly 89% of that going towards the fulltime workers. About $1.6 million goes to the Union’s general operating costs, such as the cost of power. Similarly, $1.2 million is payed into the administrative service fees, which somewhat works like a general insurance for whatever may come up. About $20,000 goes towards funding the Office of Sorority & Fraternity Affairs, which works to assist and manage Greek Life operations. SAI, which serves as the main overseer and facilitator of UF clubs and other student involvements, receives ~$370K. Finally, $250K goes towards the equipment maintenance, repair, and upgrades for both the Reitz Union and the attached hotel. The funding for the Reitz and SAI has been fairly stable since 2015.

Recreational Sports

The budget for Rec Sports for the 20-21 year is $7,305,956.00 A supermajority of this funding (~$5.1M) goes towards the salaries of Rec Sport personnel. Similar to the Reitz, Rec Sports racks up operating and administrative fee costs. The Rec Sports allocated operations funding add up to $708K, which helps pay for electricity, water, etc., while ~$623K goes towards covering the administrative fees. About $450K goes towards the supplementation of Rec Sports’ 10-year plan to help fund future costs/projects. Roughly $284K (less than 4%) goes towards the funding of Sports Clubs (of which there are over 40). Finally, about $66K goes towards Rec Sports’ marketing, communication, and general supplies, pretty self-explanatory. Rec Sports funding has seen a gradual increase since its massive boost in 2011.

Student Government Budget

The direct budget for Student Government is easily the most complicated on paper, hopefully the provided chart helps to illuminate the general funding breakup. The budget for Student Government for the 20-21 year $6,578,511.

SG’s budget in 2020 is broken up into 7 different funding groups, which are shown on the chart. The Administrative costs largely cover internal SG costs. About half ($735K) of this goes towards the salary payments of Student Government staff and student assistants. Other decent chunks are taken up by SG Projects and Network Support costs. SG advertising and election costs take up $65K worth. Other smaller allocations include: Awards, Food, Senate costs, and travel. Some aspects of Operating Costs are similar to the Admin costs, working to financially support SG happenings, but Operating Costs more so focus on programs that SG supports. Administrative fees and staff salaries take up over half of the costs here ($768K). Programs that SG covers for students include the Performing Arts Center (student discount), Natural History and Harn Museum Membership (free for students), New York Times subscriptions (free for students), and the Reitz copy center. Operating costs also includes the operation of Newell Hall, which is allocated $147K. “Group Budgets” provides SG funding for UF clubs and organizations and provides travel grants for these orgs. A bit under $500K is used to fund the organization and execution of the ACCENT speaker events. “Productions” provide funding different Student Government programs, including the Undergraduate Council, and Florida International Step Show. “SG IT” covers the salaries of both the fulltime and student IT workers. “Student Legal Services” mainly covers the salaries of those working in legal services, but it also covers some of their miscellaneous costs. Since 2011, the SG Budget has had the greatest increase in funding of the “Big Three”, increasing $1,715,269 over that time period.

Why This Matters to You

No matter your level of involvement or care for Student Government, hundreds of dollars of your tuition money contributes towards Student Government Budgets. The amount that students have had to pay towards SG continues to increase as the scale of SG funded operations likewise increase. This year, as a result of the many unknowns generated by COVID-19, SG has voted to keep the budget total the same as last year. As a student, you have a say in how this money is spent. Unfortunately, many students choose not to exercise their say on who is elected to Student Government. Last semester less than 15% of the UF Student Body voted, and that was the 2nd highest participation of the past decade according to the Alligator. SG exercises a great deal of financial control over many of the programs that students use on a daily basis, and the projects that impact the UF community. If you have any issues with how UF SG spends you and your classmate’s money, or have any desires for new programs in the future, it is imperative that you keep an eye on SG and vote when the time comes. And this will be easier than ever before with the new availability of early voting. The election is scheduled for October 6 and 7.