{ prima facie } the Temple Law newspaper

By Manuel Negron, SBA Treasurer

Each organization may have two personal accounts from which they could draw money at their own discretion and, in
addition, they may seek money from a General Fund administered by the SBA.

The two personal accounts are 1) the Discretionary Account, which is a fixed amount determined at the beginning of the year by the Budget Committee and 2) the Dues Account, which an organization may establish once they have raised their own funds. An organization may also seek money from 3) the General Fund, which is administered by the SBA unlike the Discretionary and Dues accounts which are administered by each organization.

Discretionary Account

Your Discretionary Account is a fixed amount determined by the Budget Committee at the beginning of each school year after reviewing what the organization has spent in the past and what they plan to spend in the coming year. They vary widely and are often as little as $50.

The Budget Committee learns what each organization spent in the past year by having each organization fill out a 105 form. To spend money from a Discretionary Account, you first need the permission of that organization. Then you spend the money, fill out a 108 form, and turn it into the Treasurer. Whatever you do not spend of your Discretionary Account by the end of the year, you lose. It does not roll over.

All reimbursement requests from whatever account must be accompanied with the original receipt. The original receipt should bear the pre-printed name, address and phone number of the vendor; the date; the amount tendered; and the items purchased. Handwritten receipts are frowned upon. Reimbursement requests must be turned in no later than two weeks after the expenditure is made. Each organization should keep copies of the receipts and reimbursement request forms.

Dues Account

Some organizations also have a Dues Account. You can check whether you have one by contacting the Treasurer. A Dues Account is set up by an organization that raises its own money. To spend money from a Dues Account, you get the permission of that organization. You spend the money, fill out a 108 form for reimbursement and turn that into the Treasurer.

Forms 105, 106 and 108 are available on the SBA website and on a table outside the SBA office on the 3rd floor of Barrack.

General Fund

Besides the Discretionary and Dues accounts, organizations can get money from the General Fund. To do this, however, the expenditure must either be pre-approved by the Senate at a monthly SBA meeting or by the Budget Committee if the request is for less than $150.

First, you have to fill out a 106 form, and attach supporting documentation as proof of the estimated costs. Once the expenditure is approved, the SBA sets aside that money to reimburse you after you have made the expenditure and submitted a 108 form with an attached receipt. General Fund money is only distributed to events which benefit the whole school.

Student organization budgets close at the end of April, and reimbursement requests are not processed during the exam period.