[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6157115,"mediaKeyId","5466333-5e7654e462fcbc1bf335b22d752ea1f1","parentId",5466333,"title","Board allocates annual funding to facilities reserve, adopts advisory‑committee charter changes","audioSeconds",342,"startMs",1230000,"endMs",1572000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5466333-5e7654e462fcbc1bf335b22d752ea1f1&start=1230&end=1572","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5466333-5e7654e462fcbc1bf335b22d752ea1f1/thumbnail_1230000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6157115/Washington/Board-allocates-annual-funding-to-facilities-reserve-adopts-advisorycommittee-charter-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157115-8b42046ff75697e7215ca88564187529/orig.mp4?Expires=1776018006&Signature=dbhvsBTkrMfdLnbrZZKwqqqpYLlbgGjvO9DbABITOOG4klCaEuQwMozJ3rTWlhyZaxGfwWEL-T7-TmqP~FFF4snuuoeK6HbHDU7Ck2ioi8aInWyU9x0dKZCZXgPnw12Jcp5yYpy0qXyGh7V3ClMfBnzSJPuRvfQFp0hudtm~D5HpJH~LtwJuhulzvkB0Kd6BUZupIdbfJKieSAQo5O~3wRlFCJK-mOSaj~Qbaquflx8Jfacwa3Rzmxz29VpaSC06xkQjUtyUdLfY87Dny3sNZl4a8Y-bBKBy5Ab7180smeIHfNpLaxP9hlgTTV81UaA-rseD92-cgoR~feVHX4Kr4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bar Association, Washington State","date","2025-07-23T21:10:59Z","article","The Budget and Audit Committee voted to place $150,000 from unrestricted reserves into the facilities reserve on an annual basis and to adopt recommended amendments to the Facilities Advisory Committee charter that establish planning timelines for real‑estate recommendations.
Tiffany Lynch, director of finance, said the facilities advisory subcommittee recommended adding timeline language to the charter to require at least five years’ lead time for recommendations about purchasing real estate and at least three years for lease recommendations. Lynch said the intent is to provide adequate runway to build reserves and perform necessary work should the board later decide to relocate, refurbish, or purchase space.
Committee members and staff described the strategy as saving smaller amounts over a longer period to accumulate the funds needed for future space decisions. The recommendation to fund the facilities reserve with an annual $150,000 transfer from unrestricted reserves was brought forward and put to a vote.
Nancy Hawkins, a committee participant, raised a separate concern appearing in the materials about conflict‑of‑interest language for advisory committee members. Hawkins suggested the policy should extend beyond current and former committee members to include “personal and professional associates” to ensure truly independent advice; she cited a prior instance when a board member’s relative provided investment advice while also holding stock that overlapped with recommendations.
A motion to approve the facilities committee recommendations, including the $150,000 annual allocation and the charter amendments, passed unanimously with one absence. The committee’s materials also referenced aligning the facilities subcommittee’s work with long‑term leasing and purchase planning and assigned the subcommittee responsibility for annual review of the recommended amount.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Governors Meeting July 18, 2025, Part 3: Budget & Audit Committee Items","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved placing $150,000 annually from unrestricted reserves into the facilities reserve and accepted proposed amendments to the Facilities Advisory Committee charter that set planning timelines; a board member urged stronger conflict‑of‑interest language for committee advisors.","taxTitle","Bar Association, State Agencies, Executive, Washington","taxId",68462,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6157120,"Board approves license‑fee policy after second‑read vote",145,1073000,1218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5466333-5e7654e462fcbc1bf335b22d752ea1f1&start=1073&end=1218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5466333-5e7654e462fcbc1bf335b22d752ea1f1/thumbnail_1073000.jpg","/articles/6157120/Washington/Board-approves-licensefee-policy-after-secondread-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157120-982af649506b2c81c8d1ce7a051f7afe/orig.mp4?Expires=1776018006&Signature=lTTfoyVEdcXLs02XlFGTxTU3XDQWO1bDkMJGqeHOoopalqz67Uv0UPgidrv8phDhzoau43kzY0b7Z0fUIjAqUKzDGoNJ9yQLO~phklq5C3OwrRfND20SyrjlcL7XzSZaHAtzXIYvSELuIGO39e-fshCJemylOhlXEgQ85n9lnvK8h5OXjDdumcNIEf~d4BSapmXGEfY7aomxFJOHNcf8qQ4dK8I1v2KpblRM3wd11p7WnaxLY2j8anRn3c7gD5zgKhUlOdhdXyG9vuEnxUM-zaWYRN3VJ40NHD~F2yTqzs-Gsb0uEYlhxhlsHpe0SnnXymhC-CW4giCSZFlMyfdG1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Governors approved the license fee policy at second reading after a roll‑call vote following a presentation by Tiffany Lynch, director of finance. Lynch told the board the principal edits were relabeling the document from a “philosophy” to a “policy” and changing wording in the growth section from “increase” to “adjust.”
The motion to approve the license fee policy was moved and seconded and carried in a roll‑call vote with the governors present voting in the affirmative and one member noted as absent. Lynch had earlier explained that the FY2026 revenue projections include a $10 license‑fee adjustment prorated for nine months of the fiscal year; she said any board action on a separate hardship exemption would be reflected in the final budget if adopted.
No substantive debate was recorded in the meeting transcript before the vote. The policy text and the redline showing the edits appeared in the meeting materials on page 151 of the packet.
","The board voted to approve the license fee policy at second reading after staff clarified language changes; the policy renames the prior “philosophy” to “policy” and revises growth language from “increase” to “adjust.”",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6157125,"Board reviews first draft of FY2026 budget, projects modest use of reserves",786,69000,855000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5466333-5e7654e462fcbc1bf335b22d752ea1f1&start=69&end=855","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5466333-5e7654e462fcbc1bf335b22d752ea1f1/thumbnail_69000.jpg","/articles/6157125/Washington/Board-reviews-first-draft-of-FY2026-budget-projects-modest-use-of-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157125-3530fc857ed66963c96b11dd6d0fc361/orig.mp4?Expires=1776018006&Signature=f5O3psJXrMNscFvCtA23dWL3Pacm~hUy35rV4gGmciiy~~qbrJ0TeZP0aIlr3wr5tbmjoYbO7FxgRb95pt1ER7~WchN-o8GwQWXJ2REldPjhDXkSV5uV1YkPVh9NiENMGaTzYT8dJj6VtlQcUzOj8wrMuIui-5~VcRadDUJpfrm7NRs7yQ65stJNBe9CVa~Aq9fjNaklGzVcAl9kLYN5b4B2Xph8ymc6rXJom8tlhqGplE0Uyv~-TupshijLrE4jW~k78Ukq8YwPtVN7KKsZjUMo~f1G30s8LVxGqugMRmpNTN9TY3ubm74U68urDl40cfiMo64TnpxhKmFd~igTkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tiffany Lynch, director of finance, on Zoom presented the board’s first draft of the fiscal 2026 budget to the Budget and Audit Committee, saying the three funds included in the draft show a combined budgeted use of reserves “just under 1,500,000.”
The draft compares a fiscal 2025 reforecast to the FY2026 proposal and highlights modest changes driven by staffing step increases, a 2% salary assumption, higher IT and professional fees for one‑time implementation costs, and a planned use of facilities and special‑projects reserves. Lynch said the sections budget was not included in this draft but will be in the final version.
Committee members were shown line‑item differences and scenario assumptions. Lynch said salaries assume eligible step movement and “no change to our bonus incentive program.” She noted an added 1.0 full‑time equivalent for the proposed entity‑regulation cost center and that the special projects and innovation reserve—seeded by a $400,000 allocation at the end of FY2024—will fund the regulatory reform work streams, with an estimated $80,000 remaining to support the alternative pathways project in 2026.
Lynch told the committee that a major positive change for the final draft will be a reduction in employer retirement contribution rates. “We estimated in the first draft 8.4% based on what we knew from the office of the state actuary. But effective on July 1, we had a notification from the DRS that the rate is actually reduced down to 5.58,” Lynch said, and she forecast that the final budget will show roughly $400,000 less in expenses once the revised rate is applied.
On revenues, Lynch said the draft includes the planned $10 license‑fee increase that will be prorated to apply for nine months of the fiscal year and reiterated that a pending board action on a hardship exemption — if approved later — would be reflected in the final version. Lynch estimated that the hardship exemption, if implemented as proposed, would reduce license‑fee revenue by about $140,000 based on prior application patterns.
Lynch flagged one‑time increases in indirect expenses — primarily for implementation of a new association management system — and an expected shift in temporary staffing needs after the downsizing and document scanning project concluded in FY2025. She said the CLE fund shows a modest budgeted use of reserves (about $135,000) and that client‑protection reserves are projected to grow slightly, with starting reserves in the client protection fund noted at roughly $4.7 million.
The committee was told that the final draft will include the sections budgets, the confirmed retirement contribution rate, updated next‑generation bar exam logistics costs, any approved hardship exemption, and recommended allocations from the special projects and innovation fund (including the proposal to earmark the $300,000 moderate‑means program funding in that reserve while the program is under assessment). Lynch said she expects the final budget to be about $700,000 stronger (less use of reserves) than the draft before the board in large part because of the retirement rate change and other adjustments.
Questions from governors focused on timing and presentation of alternate versions should a board action (the hardship exemption) change revenues; Lynch said staff can present comparative versions (with and without the exemption) so the board can see both outcomes. No formal budget adoption occurred at this meeting; the committee’s next step is to consider the final draft on August 18 and, if recommended, bring it to the full board in September.
","Director of Finance Tiffany Lynch presented the first draft of the FY2026 budget covering three funds, forecasting about $1.5 million use of unrestricted reserves, changes to retirement contribution assumptions, and planned allocations from special projects and facilities reserves.","actionData","errors"]

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Board allocates annual funding to facilities reserve, adopts advisory‑committee charter changes

Board approves license‑fee policy after second‑read vote

Board reviews first draft of FY2026 budget, projects modest use of reserves