The Graduate and Professional Student Association approved a $75-per-semester facilities fee proposal Friday in a 16-5 vote, the last of ASU’s five student governments to vote on the measure.

The vote came less than a month after a University-wide town hall meeting was held to educate both graduate and undergraduate student representatives on the fee.

Since then, the Tempe, West and Downtown student governments have considered the measure. The Associated Students of ASU Downtown was the only governing assembly to vote the fee proposal down, and the Polytechnic student government approved the fee last fall.

The presidents of ASU’s five student governments are now expected to present the proposal to ASU administration. If an agreement is reached, the proposal will be considered at the Arizona Board of Regents meeting in March.

Discussion on the fee at Friday’s meeting echoed the disputes about student control and affordability, which were heard in undergraduate student government meetings.

“I told my constituents that the fee is an inevitable fee,” said assembly member Michael Rutkowski, of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “We’re facing a financial situation where the administration will be required to increase tuition, and increase fees also, just to make ends meet.”

During the fee discussion, Rutkowski said approving the measure was not a decision of whether or not to have a fee, but whether or not students wanted more control over how fee money is spent.

The fee would not go into place until construction on the new facilities is completed.

GPSA President Justin Boren agreed with Rutkowski.

The University will eventually build more facilities and students will pay for construction through tuition, fees or tax dollars, he said.

“No matter what, we’re paying for it,” Boren said. “So it depends on which of those three do we like the most, and which do we have more discretionary control of.”

Assembly member Aditya Vaidya of the engineering school raised concerns about whether or not it was fair for students who do not use the facilities to pay the fee. In addition, Vaidya questioned whether graduate students should have to pay the same fee amount since there are more undergraduate students at ASU.

“We have a lot of fees now that people never tap into,” Boren responded. “Just like you pay taxes to the state. [You may] never drive on a portion of the [Interstate] 10 freeway in West Phoenix, [but] you still pay taxes for that public use.”

Vaidya also questioned the timing of the fee.

“Does it make sense to build facilities right now when the economy’s not good?” he said.

Boren said the timing is ideal because construction costs and interest rates on government loans are low.

“That may not last much longer for the institution,” Boren said.

The four presidents of ASU’s undergraduate student governments were present at the meeting, listening to the discussion and answering questions from assembly members.

More than 30 minutes of discussion with two time extensions led to a motion to end the debate, and a vote was taken.

The date when the five presidents will meet with ASU administration has not yet been confirmed.

Reach the reporter at kjdaly@asu.edu