Budget and Finances
The Central Student Government has an annual budge of roughly $800,000. This money is spent on programming, operations, a graduate childcare subsidy, and student organization funding. This page serves as a bank of Frequently Asked Questions regarding CSG's finances.
1
Where does CSG's money come from?
The bulk of CSG's money comes from a semesterly student fee of $11.19, of which CSG receives $9.73. $1.46 goes toward University childcare costs through the Office of Financial Aid. Its revenues are heavily dependent on enrollment levels. If enrollment drops, CSG's revenues drop.
2
Where does CSG's money get spent?
CSG's largest account is, by far, the Student Organization Funding Committee (SOFC) account. Student organizations can apply for SOFC to cover expenses for various events and activities on a reimbursement basis. This helps hundreds of student organizations hold costs down for their members.
CSG also holds money in discretionary accounts that it can use to fund events or services. In previous years, CSG used these accounts to pay for the pilot of the Night Owl bus route, the Under the Lights tailgate, the expansion of the IM Building hours, various water bottle refill stations around campus, early dining hall hours on game days, and several other student-run events. Some money goes towards CSG's operations - think printing costs and office supplies.
3
Do the CSG officers make any money from these fees?
Under the provisions of A.R. 9-015, CSG members are entitled to compensation based on economic needs as determined by Pell Grant eligibility. A CSG position can demand as much time as a part-time or full-time job, which in the past has made it difficult or impossible for many students to participate in CSG with the burdens of classwork and living in Ann Arbor. This new policy is intended to allow a more diverse body of students to participate in CSG, representing more accurately the student body as a whole.
4
What is the student government fee at our peer institutions?
It is a little difficult to compare fees across institutions, since each uses fees slightly differently. In any case, though, Michigan has one of the lowest student government fees in the country. The most comparable, Michigan State University, currently has an $21.00 student government fee.
Financial Transparency Portal
The 2023-2024 Academic Year can be found here.
Documentation for the 2022 - 2023 Academic Year can be found here, in addition to our current finances visualized.
Line Item Expenditures
Item | Date | Amount Spent | Students Impacted | Description | Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Welcome Week Event | 09/01/2023 | 2.36 | 350 | To celebrate the start of the school year, we hosted an event where students could meet their SG representatives, followed by a movie night. This event built community on campus and introduced about 350 new and returning students to this year’s administration, sharing how they can get involved and have their voices heard. The listed amount includes transfer from LSA Student Government. | Executive |
Notion Monthly Subscription | 09/12/2023 | $ 120.00 | - | Recurring monthly subscription for Notion to coordinate team tasks and streamline efficiency. The listed amount is cumulative since the first date of purchase. | Executive |
SOFC Review Session Operational Expenses | 09/17/2023 | $ 318.71 | - | Recurring operational expenses for weekly SOFC meetings, in which the committee reviews hundreds of student organization funding requests. The listed amount is cumulative since the first date of purchase. | Executive |
Maize and Blue Cupboard Event | 09/18/2023 | $ 431.24 | 700 | Distributing ice cream in the Diag to raise awareness for Maize and Blue Cupboard. The organization targets food insecurity by providing students with equitable access to healthy, nutritious, and nourishing food, as well as the ability to prepare it for themselves. | Executive |
Harvest Fest Event | 09/24/2023 | $ 53.08 | 75 | Organized by the University of Michigan Sustainable Food Program and the Campus Farm, HarvestFest is a celebration of sustainable food and sustainability-related initiatives at U-M. The event included games, music, food, and farm tours. It positively impacted student life through connections to many organizations on campus and in our local community working to make our food system more just and resilient. | Executive |
Executive Retreat | 09/24/2023 | $ 50.00 | - | Fostering team bonding and new member inclusivity through a Law Quad retreat. Additionally, updating CSG executive team photos to accurately portray leadership. | Executive |
Group X Passes (U-M Recreational Sports) | 10/06/2023 | $ 3,000.00 | 50 | Passes promoting equity in student recreational sports use (50 passes at $60 each, totaling $3000). | Executive |
World Bites Event | 10/08/2023 | $ 5,342.55 | 450 | World Bites was a showcase of cultures, including a food fair and performances from student organizations. It aimed to build community on campus and provide an opportunity for students to engage with organizations from different cultures, reaching over 450 students. | Executive |
Assembly on the Diag Event | 10/10/2023 | $ 926.00 | 200 | Assembly on the Diag was an event hosted by CSG to grant greater visibility to our student government and to promote democratic engagement for students. This event, which attracted around 100 community members, was composed of a weekly Assembly meeting held in the Diag, as well as a voter registration drive in collaboration with Turn-Up Turnout, a civic-based student organization. The event featured guest speaker and Ann Arbor Councilwoman Linh Song (D-Ward 2), who encouraged members of CSG and the public to make their voices heard in local politics. Funding went towards equipment such as wireless microphones and stands, and catering to engage the community. | Legislative |
Hydration Station | 10/13/2023 | $ 795.00 | 2000 | Distributing 100 cases of water to students on Game Days to combat unsafe conditions. | Executive |
SMPSEC Personal Safety Event | 10/19/2023 | $ 1,023.15 | 100 | Collaborated with DPSS to promote student safety, reaching over 100 students, and funded nightcaps to prevent drink spiking and T-shirts to spread event awareness. | Executive |
Title | Regent Meeting | SLS | School/College Governments | CSG (MSA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-2023 | June 2022 | $8.50 | $1.50 | $11.19 |
2012-2015 | June 2014 | $8.50 | $1.50 | $9.19 |
2011-2012 | June 2011 | $8.50 | $1.50 | $7.19 |
2005-2006 | July 2005 | $6.00 | $1.50 | $7.19 |
2004-2005 | July 2004 | $5.50 | $1.50 | $6.69 |
2002-2003 | July 2002 | $5.50 | $1.50 | $6.69 |
2001-2002 | July 2001 | $5.50 | $1.50 | $5.69 |
2000-2001 | July 2000 | $5.50 | $1.50 | $5.69 |
1999-2000 | July 1999 | $5.50 | $1.50 | $5.69 |
1998-1999 | June 1998 | $5.50 | $1.00 | $5.69 |