Florida State University’s Student Government Association (SGA) was recognized at the Leon County Commission meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11 with a proclamation for advancing fiscal stewardship and responsible budget management through student leadership training.
Last year, FSU SGA adapted Leon County’s “Let’s Balance!” budget simulation game into a tailored training tool to equip student leaders with real-world skills in budget management. This initiative provides insight into the challenges and responsibilities of financial decision-making. It has also gained national attention, earning SGA invitations to present at state, regional and national conferences.
“SGA’s efforts have set a high standard for student leadership training, enabling FSU students to serve as thought leaders in sharing best practices with student governments and university staff across the country,” said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs. “This initiative not only equips our student leaders with essential skills but also fosters a culture of fiscal responsibility and civic engagement that serves as a national example.”
At the meeting, Leon County Commission Chairman Brian Welch presented SGA representatives with the formal “Proclamation Recognizing FSU Student Government Association for its Dedication, Leadership, and Innovation in Student Training and Commitment to Advancing Fiscal Stewardship and Responsible Budget Management Among Future Leaders.”
“Our SGA students have the tremendous responsibility of deciding how to allocate about $14 million in student fee revenues each year, which is no small task,” said Andy Johnson, program director for FSU’s Student Governance & Advocacy. “These students are not only embracing training tools like ‘Let’s Balance!’ to become more prepared for their budget process, but they are leveraging it to build important connections with the community and other universities nationwide. I continue to be so proud of how our students are leading the way to make their student government more transparent, accessible and accountable.”
“SGA’s efforts have set a high standard for student leadership training, enabling FSU students to serve as thought leaders in sharing best practices with student governments and university staff across the country”
– Amy Hecht, VP for Student Affairs
In the budget game, participants play the role of an individual member of their “budget committee.” The goal of the game is to balance a fictional student government budget that funds student services and budget priorities — all while maintaining a responsible level of funding in reserve for budget emergencies that arise throughout the game. SGA worked closely with the FSU Division of Student Affairs Marketing and Communications Office to redesign and rebrand “Let’s Balance!”
FSU Student Senate President Bella LoBianco presented SGA’s adapted version of the game at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Student Leadership Symposium this month and at the Student Government Institute at the University of Florida last year.
“‘Let’s Balance!,’ developed by Leon County’s Government, has been an invaluable tool in teaching students effective budgeting in an engaging and interactive way,” LoBianco said. “The game provides a real-world simulation that allows students to navigate the complexities of financial decision-making. By incorporating key budgeting elements such as expenditures, revenues, reserve funds and more, the game helps students visualize and understand the challenges of balancing a budget, preparing them for real fiscal responsibilities.”
For more about FSU’s Student Government Association, visit sga.fsu.edu.
About FSU’s Student Government Association
FSU’s Student Government Association is an organization authorized by §1004.26, Florida Statutes dedicated to providing representation, services and advocacy on behalf of the student body. SGA is comprised of an executive, legislative and judicial branch, as well as an elections office, a Congress of Graduate Students, and a variety of agencies, bureaus, institutes, class councils and other entities which provide meaningful opportunities for student engagement and support.