At the March 7 meeting, the California Board of Occupational Therapy’s executive officer presented a fiscal update showing year-to-date revenue and expenditure activity and warned of potential appropriation reductions that would require spending adjustments.

The executive officer reported year-to-date revenue of about $2,200,000 and showed a projected year-end shortfall on an appropriations comparison (a listed net balance of negative $25,609 based on the materials). The board had requested a contract for a private fee-study consultant, but the budget office did not approve that contract. The executive officer said she had asked the budget office to perform the fee analysis instead and expected a presentation of the office’s findings between now and the June meeting.

Staff also reported that the board has submitted requests for augmentations (additional funds) for Attorney General (AG) and Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) work to support enforcement and hearings. With requested augmentations and targeted reductions (training, equipment, and postponement of some items), staff estimate a positive net position in materials — roughly $156,000 — but noted a possible upcoming reduction of about $127,000 in appropriations tied to statewide control-section adjustments discussed in the governor’s budget process. The executive officer said the projected reduction is anticipated but not finalized and that staff would continue to monitor and recommend necessary reductions to maintain solvency.

Staff also noted short-term operational adjustments: a printer contract for license cards is being finalized and license-renewal purchases for a specific printer were temporarily disabled on the public website until the service agreement is in place. The executive officer recommended continued close monitoring of expenditures, and staff will return to the board with fee-analysis findings and options for short- and mid-term fiscal management.