It’s budget season once again for Chartered Student Organizations, though there are a few changes to the process.

The biggest change is the finance panel, an online database that went live this past Monday. From now until March 15, CSOs can put together their budget for the 2010-2011 academic year and submit the names of the new executive board.

“[The budget] is a plan of what you want to do and the resources needed to do it,” Financial Vice President Robert Moehle said.

He advised groups to put in as much information and detail as possible. “We’re then more likely to understand what you’re trying to do and see the reasoning behind it.”

Budgets are due by 5 p.m. on March 15, and Moehle reminded that there is “no tolerance” for late submissions.

Another one of the new aspects of the funding process is the finance buddy. Every CSO is assigned a finance buddy to help in putting together the budget and to answer any questions.

“[The finance buddy] is a specific person to go to,” Chris Ackels, first year senator and finance buddy for the Student Life student organization cabinet, said. “We’re an advocate for the CSO on the committee … A voice for the group.”

Moehle and Ackels said this new buddy system was created to cut down on inefficiency. During the budget review meetings, time would be spent providing help with the budget.

The amount of hearing time given to each organization is also being changed from 30 minutes to 15 minutes.

Also, the meetings will take place over the duration of one weekend, the weekend of March 26, instead of two.

For those who have not been through the budget process before, Ackels suggests to “stay in constant contact with your finance buddy.”

Junior Peter Zylka, treasurer of the Math and Computer Science Club, said that the group has yet to need any help from their finance buddy, but sees this new system as “an improvement.”

“So far, it seems more organized,” Zylka said. “I like that it’s more personal and that it’s clear on what we need to do.”