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<DIV><SPAN class=288320919-12032012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Good
Afternoon,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=288320919-12032012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=288320919-12032012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Below
you can read about the gloomy outlook for the Office for the
Blind.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=288320919-12032012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=288320919-12032012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>Cathy</FONT></SPAN></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> Monday, March 12, 2012 11:10
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Smith, Chris H (OFB-FK); Smits, Ann (CHFS DMS); Ann Smits;
Becky Cabe; Bess Douthitt; Bill Deatherage; Monterosso, Bill (OETCO-FK); Cathy
Jackson; David Lawson; Don Gerard; George Stokes; Gordon-Brown, Gerry (CAP-FK);
Gerry Rader Slusher; Jim Shaw; ki4vjd@gmail.com; Kay Mathis; 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>Subject:</B>
Important - SRC Budget Information Update<BR><B>Importance:</B>
High<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Below is the latest budget
information from Chris Smith.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Good morning Council
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 promised, we are
providing you an update of the Office for the Blind’s current budget situation.
<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 Office for the
Blind has been asked to reduce their budget by 4.2 percent this current State
Fiscal Year. Budget reductions over the last several years have left the
Kentucky Office for the Blind in a major financial crisis. We have reached
a point that replacing only the 4.2% cut this fiscal year will not solve our
budget deficit. As of this moment, the office has an outstanding debt of
$1,567,000 for this current fiscal year. As you may know, for every $1 of
state funds available, the Office for the Blind is able to draw $3.69 federal
funds. To fix this deficit, the office will need $338,700 of state funds
to draw over $1,233,300 of available federal funds for this current fiscal
year. <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">This loss of state
funds will have an overall negative impact of $2,921,786 to the state of
Kentucky. It is also estimated that 616 individuals that are visually
impaired or blind will not receive rehabilitation services from our
office. These services are extremely important because they allow citizens
with disabilities an opportunity to become productive, self-sufficient, tax-
paying citizens in their communities. <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">These funds are
critical to the services OFB provides and without these funds all services will
begin to diminish.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Chris
Smith<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"><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-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>