Bar Association board adopts 2026 "Keller" deduction after executive-session review

At a meeting of the Bar Association board, members voted to adopt the 2026 Keller deduction after discussing the item in executive session. The board announced the move into executive session to "conduct the evaluation of the executive director and receiving and discussing legal advice," permitted under the WISPA bylaws, before returning to public session to act on the Keller deduction.

The board's general counsel, Laurie Powers (general counsel), introduced the item and said materials had been provided to members. After brief discussion in public session the board entertained a motion and a second to adopt the Keller deduction and proceeded to a roll-call vote.

Board member Tim (first name only) spoke in discussion, saying, "I would just like to say that I think that we deduct too much because I think we're doing anything that's even arguably, you know, subject to being excluded. And if we wanted to, I think we can go a lot further, but I support this because I prefer to be on the conservative side." No other members asked to speak before the vote.

The motion to adopt the Keller deduction passed. Roll-call voting recorded the following votes: Christina Larey, Aye; Todd Bloom, Aye; Jordan Couch, Aye; Chris Vang, Aye; Kari Petrasek, Aye; Tom Ahern, Yes; Allison Whitney, Yes; Mary Rathbone, Aye; Harvin Price, Yes; Alon Dunluth, (voted; transcript reads "Epstein" during roll call); Emily Arneson, Yes; Nam Nguyen, Yes; Matthew Dresden, (voted; motion declared passed). Kevin Fay was noted as not present.

The board did not specify further implementation steps or an effective date for the Keller deduction in public session. The item had been discussed in executive session; the board stated that if more time for executive session were needed, they would announce a revised public-session resumption time.

The meeting then moved on to other agenda items, including consideration of the FY2026–29 strategic plan.