Difference between revisions of "GPCA Budget FY2011-2012 Expense Narrative"

Latest revision as of 15:36, 22 April 2011

0. INTRODUCTION

1. BYLAWS COMMITTEE (Tier I - $0, Tier II - $100, Tier III - $100)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Bylaws Committee and there are no active members on the Bylaws Committee. In FY2010-11 $100 was budgeted and not spent for the Bylaws Committee. The FY2011-12 budget sets aside $100 for Tier II in the event that the Coordinating Committee makes appointments to the Bylaws Committee and the Bylaws Committee submits a work plan to cover the use of the funds.

2. CAMPAIGNS & CANDIDATES WORKING GROUP (Tier I - $5,880, Tier II - $11,980, Tier III - $18,580)

The Campaigns and Candidates Working Group FY2011-12 budget contains standard annual expenses like the Campaign Support Fund, recently added expenses associated with the voter database project (that was authorized in FY2010-2011) and new Green 2012-inspired for FY2011-2012.

The Campaign Support Fund is budgeted at $7,000 in Tier I, $7,000 in Tier II and $10,000 in Tier III. The Voter Registration File data base software is budgeted at $1,080 in Tier I ($90/month) in a contract with CAVoterConnect authorized in the Budget Approval Resolutions. In conjunction with the data base software, there is a two month continuation in Tier I of the independent consultant arrangement the CCWG established in January 2010 to perform Voter Registration File data base work ($400) and Volunteer recruitment and coordination ($400). This would maintain these efforts while providing time for the party to conduct a formal hiring process for an independent contractor to perform these services on an ongoing basis. The Coordinating Committee is directed to conduct this process in the Budget Approval Resolutions. For Voter Registration File data base work $2,400 is budgeted in Tier II and $3,000 in Tier III. For Volunteer recruitment there is $1,200 is budgeted in Tier II and $2,400 in Tier III. For campaign trainings, $200 is budgeted in Tier II and $2,000 in Tier III.

3. CLEARINGHOUSE COMMITTEE (Tier I - $1,860, Tier II - $2,860, Tier III - $2,860)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Clearinghouse Committee. There are no active members on the Clearinghouse Committee. In FY2010-11 $2,510 was budgeted and $1,110 was spent on clearinghouse related expenses. In lieu of a committee request, the FY2011-12 budget contains $1,000 for Tier I and $2,000 for Tier II for merchandise expenses for t-shirts, buttons, stickers, bilingual materials and shopping bags. An equivalent income projection for these amounts is provided in the income narrative. In addition there is $550 in Tier I for the phone and $110 in Tier I for the post office box and $200 for shipping.

One of the associated resolutions that recommended for approval in conjunction with the FY2011-2012 budget is that the party adopt a standard prioritization of the party's core operating expenses and legal obligations. Paying for the phone and post office box are among those highest prioritizations.

4. COORDINATING COMMITTEE (Tier I - $6,475, Tier II - $7,075, Tier III - $7,075)

The Coordinating Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains standard annual costs associated with party insurance, GPCA general assemblies and the operation of the Coordinating Committee. Tier I includes $1,150 for insurance and $750 for note taking at the general assemblies. It also budgets $4,500 to cover the expenses of hosting the general assemblies (and projects an equivalent income of $4,500 from registration fees in the Coordinating Committee income narrative to pay for them.) Tier II includes $250 and Tier III $500 for Plenary Administration (THIS NEEDS CLARIFICATION BY THE CC AS TO WHAT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR). Tier II also contains$300 for a Coordinating Committee retreat. Such retreats have been held in many but not all past years.

5. ELECTORAL REFORM WORKING GROUP (Tier II - $100, Tier III - $100)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Electoral Reform Working Group. In FY2010-11 $200 was budgeted and not spent for the Electoral Reform Working Group. The FY2011-12 budget sets aside $200 for Tier II in the event that the Electoral Reform Working Group submits a work plan to the Coordinating Committee to cover the use of the funds.

6. FINANCE COMMITTEE (Tier I - $34,695, Tier II - $78,645, Tier III - $81,245)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Finance Committee. The FY2011-12 budget contains funding for standard, annual GPCA expenses in Tier I such as FPPC reporting software ($1,250), Mail permits ($185), and merchant fees ($1,500), although its possible that the GPCA may achieve a better price in merchant fees during the course of FY2011-2012 based upon further research of options available.

The FY2011-12 Finance Committee budget contains funding for more aggressive GPCA fundraising in FY2011-12 than has transpired in recent years. As the Finance Committee did not submit any detailed income projections for the FY2011-12 budget, the income projections in the Income Narrative and budget spreadsheet correspond to those inspired by the Green 2012 plan. In turn the fundraising expenses budgeted for in FY2011-12 correspond to the efforts necessary to reach those income projections. They include traditional party expense categories like Prospect mailing, including printing and postage ($11,250 in Tier I, $27,500 in Tier II) and Resolicitation mailings, including printing and postage ($15,000 in Tier I and $33,000 in Tier II). They also include Customer Relationship Management contact database software which is necessary to handle the increased volume of contacts that will accompany increased fundraising. This cost is reflected in Tier II ($4,600) and includes $1,000 to set up and $300/month thereafter.

The FY2011-12 Finance Committee budget also contains funding for a fundraiser. In Tier I that funding ($3,000) is projected to cover May through July 2011 and go to an independent contractor with the title of Interim Executive Director, who shall have fundraising as part of his/her responsibilities. The Interim Executive Director shall be hired via a no bid contract as specified in the Budget Approval Resolutions. Afterwards $10,000 is budgeted in Tier II and $12,000 in Tier III for an independent contractor Executive Director who shall also have fundraising as part of his/her responsibilities. The person filling that position shall be hired in an open, transparent and competitive process as described in the GPCA personnel policy approved by the Spring 2003 GPCA General Assembly.

7. GREEN ISSUES WORKING GROUP (Tier I - $0, Tier II - $500, Tier III - $500)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Green Issues Working Group. In FY2010-11 $500 was budgeted and not spent. The FY2011-12 budget contains $500 in Tier II for "Coalition Building/Project Initiatives" and $500 in Tier II for "Misc/General Office." This funding is contingent the Green Issues Working Group submitting a work plan to the Coordinating Committee and the Finance Committee to explain these expenses.

8. GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING WORKING GROUP (Tier I - $300, Tier II - $1,920, Tier III - $25,200)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Green Issues Working Group. The FY2011-12 budget contains funding for Green Focus in Tier II and includes $5,000 for printing and shipping, $1,000 for posting and $300 for layout/managing editor. Green Focus has been a standard, annual expense of the party so funding for it is included in the FY2011-12 budget even without a working group work plan. But according to the Budget Approval Resolution, the printing can not be authorized until a specific work plan containing specific costs is submitted to the Finance Committee by the layout/managing editor.

The GPCA Voter Registration drive is funded primarily within the GROW Tier II and Tier III budget, other than $300 budgeted for tabling materials in Tier I. In Tier II there is $8,000 for local field organizers ($10,000 in Tier III), $2,400 for voter registration management and volunteer training and coordination ($3,000 in Tier III); $2,000 for tabling materials ($2,500 in Tier III), $800 for tabling fees at important events and festivals ($1,000 in Tier III) and $320 in legal compliance work ($400 in Tier III).

As part of the Budget Approval Resolutions, the Executive Director and GROW are directed by the General Assembly to further develop the details of this Voter Registration drive into a draft plan and to return to the Fall GPCA General Assembly to present the plan for comment.

9. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP (Tier I - $5,900, Tier II - $5,900, Tier III - $5,900)

The IT FY2011-2012 budget contains standard annual Tier I expenses of $660 for Server Hosting ($55/month) and $240 for Server Backup Service ($20/month). Approval of the associated resolution would authorize that the GPCA continue to use Godmoma Forge, LLC for serving hosting and the Green Internet Society for Server Backup Services. One of the associated resolutions recommended for approval in conjunction with the FY2011-2012 budget is that the party adopt a standard prioritization of the party's core operating expenses and legal obligations. Paying for the server hosting and backup among those prioritizations.

The IT FY2011-2012 budget also contains expenses of $5,000 for web redesign/content management system installation/miscellaneous projects. However there was no work plan submitted for these expenses. Given the important role of the party's web site, the Budget Committee recommends that its evolution be considered by the General Assembly as part of its budget discussion. There was a work plan for these funds submitted as part of Green 2012, and it recommends that a web site upgrade be done as part of Tier I because of the need for an improved site to support increased fundraising efforts. That plan is as follows:

- Redesigning GPCA website and migrating to an open source team-focused content management system

120 total hours of staff/consultant time and five phases of implementation as follows:

Phase 1: Needs and Audience Analysis (10 hrs) • Assist identification of 3-4 goals for the website (e.g. "to enhance the organizational identity of GPCA", "to inform Greens of the latest news, actions and events in California.") • Assist I.D. of 3-5 user types (e.g. "First Time Visitors" or "Press") and their needs • Target user actions and outcomes desired for each user type. Rank in priority • Build site map based on desired outcomes and audience needs

Phase 2: Current Content Assessment (10 hrs) • Audit current GPCA content and cross reference with site map • Assess content gaps (or required edits) • Schedule content for migration, beginning with items necessary for site launch • Gather necessary account data for any existing 3rd party web services that need to be integrated with the new website (donation processors, social media feeds, YouTube, etc)

Phase 3: Wireframe and Branding (30 hrs) • Draw wireframe illustrating rough layout of site elements • Decide 1st draft color scheme, logo implementation and font choices • Create site mockup and accept revisions

Phase 4: Test Installation (60 hrs) • Install Drupal and required modules on test domain and hosting space provide by client • Apply theme, module, and custom configurations • Begin transfer of content from current site • Begin training GPCA members on content input • Invite GPCA members for user and audience testing

Phase 5: Site launch (10 hrs) • Schedule launch date • Identify key existing URLs for redirection to corresponding pages on the new site • Back up old site to a subdomain, verify functionality • Take Drupal installation live at cagreens.org • On call troubleshooting for first week

10. INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL COMMITTEE ($0)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the International Protocol Committee. There are no active members of the committee and there have been one in recent years. No funds are included in the FY2011-12 budget for this committee.

11. MEDIA COMMITTEE (Tier I - $3,600, Tier II - $11,800, Tier III - 15,100)

The Media Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains a continuation of the Press Secretary position in Tier I at $3,330 ($275/month) plus $300 ($25/month) for phone/fax distribution costs, travel and miscellaneous expenses. The Press Secretary position will continue to involve working in conjunction with the Media Committee to write and disseminate news releases statewide, and coordinate media for GPCA. It will also involve scripting and production responsibility for the Visibility Campaign.

The Green Party Visibility Campaign is budgeted for $7,000 in Tier II and $10,000 in Tier III. Its objective is to assist GPCA candidates, fundraising and major donor campaigns and the party's voter registration drive by featuring 15 and 30 second television spots to run on CNN, Headline News, MNBC and other cable networks. The GPCA spent $3,300 in FY2010-2012 on this program. A complementary Green Party Visibility Campaign - Online is budgeted for $1,200 in Tier II and $1,500 with the same objectives as the Visibility Campaign except that it will be focused only on online advertising, such as Google and Facebook.

12. GPUS DELEGATION (Tier I - $2,000, Tier I - $2,000, Tier I - $2,000)

The Platform Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains $2,000 in Tier I for travel and registration subsidies for GPUS delegates to attend the GPUS Annual National Meeting, scheduled this year for Alfred, New York, August 5th-7th (http://nygreenfest.org/). If any of these funds are not used, this will be clear by August.

13. PLATFORM STANDING COMMITTEE (Tier I - $200, Tier II - $300, Tier III - $300)

The Platform Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains $200 in Tier I for printing platform updates. The platform reserves hold 258 copies of full 2002 platforms, 258 copies of the 2005 addendum to the full platform, 158 copies of the 2006 platform summaries, 545 copies of the 2008 platform summaries, and 800 copies of the Addendum to the 2008 Platform Summary. The Platform Committee projects that 258 copies of updated full platforms should be sufficient in the form of 258 updates from 2005-2011 at a cost of $200. that the 2002 platforms would need a page indicating which planks in the 2002 platforms were revised and where to find them in the updates, and that his alternative is much less expensive than getting 258 full 2011 platforms as one volume.

The Platform Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains $200 in Tier II for IT costs for platform updates and $100 for transport to a Platform Committee retreat. The Platform Committee did not provide information about who would receive this money.