[Nfbk] FW: OFB Budget and Legislative Contact Information

[Cathy]

Below you will find information from Chris Smith, Director of OFB regarding
the budget cuts. It's a sorry day!

Cathy
-----Original Message-----
From: Wright, Jennifer (OFB-FK) [mailto:JenniferN.Wright at ky.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 11:30 AM
To: Smith, Chris H (OFB-FK); Jessee, Allison F (OFB-FK); Smits, Ann (CHFS
DMS); Ann Smits; Becky Cabe; Bess Douthitt; Bill Deatherage; Monterosso,
Bill (OETCO-FK); Cathy Jackson; McNabb, Cora L (OFB-FK); David Lawson; Don
Gerard; George Stokes; Gordon-Brown, Gerry (CAP-FK); Gerry Rader Slusher;
Jim Shaw; ki4vjd at gmail.com; Kay Mathis; Kenny Jones; Kim Zeigler; Michael
Freeholm; Dahmke, Mitch; Shirley, Patrick B (Education Cabinet); Paul Wiese;
Paula Wiese; Nesbitt, Richard (OFB-FK); Roger Schaf; Sharon Fields; Sharon
Fields (work); Matthews, Soraya - Division of Learning Services; Deeley,
Stephen P (OFB-LV); Susan Ament; Hammons, Twyla S (OFB-SS)
Cc: Brinly, Beth A (Education Cabinet)
Subject: OFB Budget and Legislative Contact Information


Below is a message from Chris Smith concerning budgetary information.  I
have included the link below for your convenience if you would like to pass
along your concerns to your legislators, as we discussed at the November
meeting. The information for each legislative contact is listed by county.
Click on the county where you reside and it will give you all the contact
information for your legislators.  If you prefer, you may send a letter by
attaching it to an email. There is a link on each legislator's page where
you can click to send them an email.



http://www.lrc.ky.gov/whoswho/county.htm



If you have questions, or need help accessing the information, please let me
know.



Jennifer





Good morning SRC members,



As you requested at our last SRC meeting, I am providing you with an update
of the General Fund budget reduction information.



As you may know, next month the legislature will be in town to possibly
tweak the remaining Fiscal Year (FY) budget and create a budget for the next
biennium.  This year's General Fund (GF) shortfall is anticipated to be
about $189.9M.  As part of a cost saving measure for the current FY, we have
been asked to reduce our GF appropriation by an additional 2%.  This request
will result in a GF reduction of $23,300 in addition to the $18,000, or
1.5%, already reduced this Fiscal Year.  As many of you may know, our
program grant has a 21.3% matching requirement and the GF is used as match
for these funds.  If our GF is reduced by $23,300 this will result in a loss
of $$86,100 of federal funds for a total budget reduction of $109,400.  This
loss of funds will result in an estimated 21 consumers not receiving
services from our office.



For every one dollar of GF money spent in the program, OFB receives $3.69 in
federal funds to spend as well.  By reducing the GF, the OFB will be even
further from meeting the match required for federal funds available
resulting in a loss of federal match totaling $2.5M for FFY 2012.  After the
2% reduction, an additional $475,500 GF appropriation will be needed in
order to fully meet match.  With the additional match, it is estimated that
550 more visually impaired or blind citizens would receive services or
increased services, not to mention the impact of these funds being put back
into our state.



The Secretary, Commissioner and I understand that these proposed reductions
will cause an uneasiness.  We have begun reviewing each and every
expenditure to see where we can reduce or eliminate costs.  This review of
our overall expenses will be ongoing for several weeks.  I will be meeting
with our fiscal staff on a regular basis to monitor budgets and continue the
review of our overall expenses.



I would like to ask that if any members have any suggestions to cut costs
immediately, or in the near future, please feel free to submit your
suggests.  Every idea will be reviewed and considered.  As requested I will
keep each of you informed about the budget and any other pertinent
information related to our office.



Again, if anyone has any questions or suggestions please feel free to
contact me.



Thank you for serving on the SRC and for your support.



Chris



Christopher H. Smith
Executive Director
KY Office for the Blind
275 East Main Street
Mail Stop 2-EJ
Frankfort KY 40621

502.564.4754

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information contained in this email message
may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you
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