CONTACT: Manager of this proposal is Jake Schneider GPUS Treasurer at  jakeschneider@myexcel.com

SUBJECT:  The process of how discretionary funds shall be approved or disapproved by the Steering Committee of The Green Party of the United States [as amended]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:  The budget of 2003 that was approved required that the Steering Committee send out for approval this proposal for a separate vote. These discretionary funds are already in the budget and have been approved but cannot be spent until this proposal passes. As stated in the budget if this proposal fails the budgeted funds that have been approved shall be returned to the general fund.

PROPOSAL: The Steering Committee shall have the authority to expend the discretionary funds approved in the annual budget and the powers to decide the amounts and purposes for expending these funds. The Steering Committee shall seek Coordinating Committee approval for expenditures in excess of $2500. Requests for expenditure of discretionary funds may be accomplished by person(s) outside of the Steering Committee by submitting a written request by electronic means or postal mail to the Treasurer of GPUS. The Treasurer will present the request to the Steering Committee for consideration. All written requests of this type shall include at a minimum, the date the funds are needed by, the amount, and the purpose(s) of the expenditure(s), as well as any justifications for the expenditure(s) bearing in mind there is competition for these funds. The Steering Committee may seek, as its option, approval from the Coordinating Council by submitting requests to the on line voting proposal process. Disbursal of approved funds will follow the current fiscal policy of GPUS.

TIME LINE:  Discussion period March 10-31; Voting Period April 1-7 (Extended to April 13)

RESOURCES: None

REFERENCE: THE 2003 budget can be viewed at our website  www.greenpartyus.org on the financial page and in the Steering Committee portion of the budget.