One of the most challenging management decisions facing credit unions today is budget allocation. Given the downturn in the economy this year and slow projections of recovery, CU decision-makers are asking, "How much should we spend on sales and marketing/public relations?" Both functions are essential to member acquisition and credit union branding, which are the lifeblood of every organization. Unfortunately, few good benchmarks exist. This column will explore how a credit union might set its budget.  To read more go to http://www.cues.org/pls/cuesp/!cues1.main?complex_id_in=3069489.3071923.3072752.12164282.page.