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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=000194817-15122011>Below
you will find information from Chris Smith, Director of OFB regarding the budget
cuts. It's a sorry day!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=000194817-15122011></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=000194817-15122011>Cathy</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Wright, Jennifer (OFB-FK)
[mailto:JenniferN.Wright@ky.gov]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 14, 2011
11:30 AM<BR><B>To:</B> 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@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)<BR><B>Cc:</B> Brinly,
Beth A (Education Cabinet)<BR><B>Subject:</B> OFB Budget and Legislative Contact
Information<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A
href="http://www.lrc.ky.gov/whoswho/county.htm">http://www.lrc.ky.gov/whoswho/county.htm</A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>If you have questions, or need help accessing the
information, please let me know. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Jennifer<o:p></o:p></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Good morning SRC
members,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">As you requested at
our last SRC meeting, I am providing you with an update of the General Fund
budget reduction information. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Again, if anyone has
any questions or suggestions please feel free to contact me.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Thank you for serving
on the SRC and for your support. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Chris<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Christopher H.
Smith<BR>Executive Director<BR>KY Office for the Blind<BR>275 East Main
Street<BR>Mail Stop 2-EJ<BR>Frankfort KY 40621<BR><BR>502.564.4754</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">CONFIDENTIALITY
STATEMENT: The information contained in this email message may be privileged,
confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you believe the message has been
sent to you in error, please do not read the message, advise the sender by reply
email that you have received the message in error, and delete the message. Thank
you for your cooperation.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>