Does Bethel decide how much they expect each congregation to cough up, while pretending that it is the elders' decision?
The "Branch" decides how much they want for the year, then "suggests" what the per publisher
tithe contribution should be. The elders then read that letter, present a resolution to the congregation to pay the amount reached by multiplying the number of publishers by the "suggested" amount. No matter how the votes for/against/abstain are counted the resolution always show FOR: All and AGAINST: None. Then each month that the accounts falls short they "thank" the publishers for remembering to contribute so we do not fall short of our "vow".
So glad to be out of that hamster wheel!