The Associated Students of Madison Student Services Finance Committee made a final decision on the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group budget Monday.
The budget of $126,244.26 was approved by a 6-0-0 vote.
In the open forum prior to the final decision, WISPIRG Chair Tony Uhl described the organization's need for membership fees.
It enables us to be a national organization,"" he said. ""We are able to share the best ideas and practices from around the country.""
Uhl said a ""recruitment outreach advocacy"" line item was necessary because it directly applies to the organization's mission statement by providing the Madison chapter with the best staff.
""The training and shared knowledge goes toward students and organizers so we can give students at Madison a greater voice in the political process,"" he said.
The group also mentioned recruitment outreach is a program that should be available at all times, not just as needed.
Another member from WISPIRG commented on the necessity for funding to allow the organization's members to attend the statewide WISPIRG retreat. She said because of budget restraints, only 11 members from Madison were allowed to attend.
""These retreats are important because we need to share ideas and develop multiple plans of attack to get things done,"" she said.
SSFC members voted to provide zero funding for the recruitment outreach advocacy program, as well as a $5,000 strike from the membership fees.
SSFC leaders said they felt both the membership fees and recruitment line item had similar roles of hiring new staff and a $5,000 cut to the membership fees was an adequate compromise.
""I think they already have included items for them to hire staff locally,"" SSFC Vice Chair Carl Fergus said. ""It is fiscally irresponsible for us to fund this, because they may or may not hire new staff, but if they do, they will attempt to do so locally.""
Members also voted to cut funding for a WISPIRG retreat, which included $138 from mileage and $390 from registration fees.
