Blog Topic 10 - Public Admin: Budgeting & Service Delivery

"[State and local budgeting] is as tangled and intricate as the webs of a thousand spiders on methamphetamines" - Ann Bowman/ Richard Kearney, 2012

I thought that was a vivid way of describing budgeting... I could definitely visualize it better after that.

1) Does you community partner rely on money or services provides by any public entity?

At the moment, PSANDNU does not receive funding from any sources.  Any funds that PSANDNU has or has had came from fundraising or donations.  Being that we are more of a grassroots organization that just started, we have not found a source of funding.  Our current missions, such as our lobby trip to Sacramento, have been self-funded by our members.  This shows how determined and dedicated these students are to the goal we are trying to accomplish.  In the future, we may be able to acquire funding from ASNDNU, but we must first obtain legitimacy.  The next step after legitimacy would be to petition for funds.

2) Are the money and services provided in a consistent and reliable manner or is the community partner subject to periodic application, approval, re-application, etc.?

The currently are no funds.  When we are able to ask for funds from ASNDNU, we must constantly apply for them, seek approval in two forums, then use a school credit card that is allowed out for a period no longer than 24 hours.  This will need to be done every time we are in need of funding, as an organization.  I was told that legitimate groups are allocated a certain amount at the beginning of the year, but I will need to look into this more.

3) How does this consistency, or lack thereof, affect your community partner's operations?

PSANDNU is very prideful, so we have been able to manage to the best of our abilities.  Of course, the lack of funding is holding PSANDNU back from its full potential.  Participation during events like the Sacramento trip has fallen because there were students that were unable to financially commit.  Also, without funding, we lack resources.

4) Do other people or organizations rely on your community partner to provide funding?

Fortunately, no one relies on PSANDNU for funds, because we do not have any.  It would be the equivalent of squeezing blood out of a rock.  Since we are a grassroots organization, we are at the lowest level of the pyramid.