Board wraps up budget work.

The Bar Board of Governors has given a final review of the Bar's 2009-10 budget.

The board approved the budget at its March meeting and at its May meeting reviewed objections from Bar members. The only objection had to do with the Family Law Section's budget, which had not been completed by the March meeting.

The board approved the section budget as proposed. That completed action on next year's budget, which now goes to the Supreme Court. The budget keeps members annual membership fees at $265 for active members and $175 for inactive members.

The complete budget was presented in an official notice in the April 30 Bar News.

The budget will spend almost $38.3 million, compared with $39 million the 2008-09 fiscal year. Revenues are projected at $38 million, down from $38.8 million expected for 2008-09. The Bar has sufficient reserves to cover the small deficit.

The new fiscal plan, which begins July 1, has no new programs and provides for no new employees.

Two major items regarding the 2009-2010 budget are funds to be set aside for redesigning the Bar's Web site and an increase in the amount of fees being allocated to the Clients' Security Fund. Bar rules allow up to $25 of each member's annual membership fees to be used to support the fund, and the budget raises the amount from $20 to $25. The increase is part of the board's revamping of the program (see story on page 1).

According to figures provided for the board, income from annual fees will remain the major revenue source for the Bar. It's projected at $22.6 million for next year, compared with $22.2 million this year.

The major expenditure will remain the regulation of the practice of law, which includes the grievance process, ethics and advertising, professionalism, and membership records. Those expenditures are budgeted at $16.5 million for 2009-10, down from $16.8 million this year.