Comptroller is the most critical SA position

The comptroller of the Student Association oversees the Student Activity fee and all the financial decisions SA makes. Arguably, it’s the most critical position in SA. Yet, there’s no real emphasis on the comptroller election.

The student body should take into account a comptroller’s message, experience and competency going into these elections. They should look at what a candidate has done rather than what positions they’ve gained. I’ve been on the Finance Board for two years, individually helping students with budgets. Furthermore, my internships with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank coupled with my political science major and global political economy minor well prepare me to serve as comptroller.

I am running for comptroller on a message of transparency, support and compassion. I have five ideas of real change I want to implement because I have seen the potential of the Finance Board and SA. Those five ideas are:

Finance Board Advisers: Twelve Finance Board members are serving over 300 student organizations. I want to assign each member to organizations as peer advisers, working closely with fiscal agents in planning budgets, working appeals and whatever else students need.

Fiscal Agent Cheat Sheet: I understand the complex and contradictory the budget process may be. As I work on streamlining the budget process, I will create a cheat sheet to share with fiscal agents to allow clarity in the meantime.

Weekly Budget Updates: When student organizations request budgets, it’s essential that fiscal agents know how much is available to plan accordingly. I will send out weekly emails of how much money was allocated and how much is left to give for organizations.

New RSO Fiscal Training: I want to personally consult with new student organizations’ fiscal agents to ensure they understand the budget process and successfully start up their organization at its most vulnerable point.

Financial Code Change: The Financial Code tier system makes it harder for smaller organizations to move up and request more funds. I want to ensure accountability. Larger organizations can continue having excellent events, yet also rewarding smaller organizations for their successes.

Over the years I have seen gaps in where the Finance Board can do better. And, as comptroller I vow to make these changes and listen to the student body about what they want from the Finance Board.

Signed,

Stacy Omosa

Comptroller Candidate

Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs, political science major

Syracuse University 2020