Treasurer’s<strong>Report</strong>TOGETHER, WE INVESTIN THE FUTURE OF COUNTIESCCAP continues to havesound finances, and is doinga creditable job weatheringthe current economic difficultiesand working our waythrough the recovery. The <strong>of</strong>ficers, Boardand staff consistently place the members’needs first, and try to emulate what youare doing locally to meet the service needs<strong>of</strong> your constituents while being mindful<strong>of</strong> costs and income sources.We did very well in managing our 2010budget, finishing with an excess <strong>of</strong> about$191,000 income over expenditures, ona budget <strong>of</strong> $6.2 million. This is particularlygratifying, because we had actuallyplanned for deficit spending <strong>of</strong> about$68,000, so taken together we performedwell over a quarter million dollars ahead<strong>of</strong> expectations.The 2011 budget will be a bigger test forthe Board and staff as we work to assurefull services on behalf <strong>of</strong> our counties inlegislative representation, programs, meetingsand education, technology, grantsand services to the affiliate organizationsthat we represent by contract. This year,the budget is just under $6.6 million, andincludes a budgeted deficit <strong>of</strong> just over$116,000. Most <strong>of</strong> the budget increaseover 2010 is normal growth, although alarge share is accounted for by two newgrants and our new <strong>County</strong> Health Alliance.This also reflects the third year weheld the line on member and affiliate dues,and it does come at a price. Note that the8 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 2011 <strong>County</strong> <strong>Commissioners</strong> <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pennsylvania</strong>
“CCAP continues to have sound finances, and is doing acreditable job weathering the current economicdifficulties and working our way through the recovery.”deficit does not represent a structural deficitbut rather reflects, and is well under theequivalent <strong>of</strong>, three years <strong>of</strong> foregone duesand affiliate fee increases, combined witha non-recurring lobbying expense.Still, we are challenging our staff to makethis a zero deficit, but we do have sufficientamounts in reserve – well over ourtarget <strong>of</strong> a half year operating expenses– if necessary. The good news is that ourstrong performance against budget in2010 is not the exception, but rather hasbeen a fairly consistent result over time.Looking ahead to 2012, we do not haveany indication at this early date <strong>of</strong> whatwe will be asking in the way <strong>of</strong> membercommitment for dues, but whatever we dowill be consistent both with our membershipmission and with recognition <strong>of</strong> ourmembers’ needs. Each year’s budget isbased on program budget reviews, whichmatch CCAP program areas against theirincome sources and the <strong>Association</strong>’sstrategic priorities.We also do long term fiscal planning, andin this context, the dues deferral has alsodeferred part <strong>of</strong> our long term fiscal plan,which calls for development <strong>of</strong> a morerealistic dues schedule to recognize thesupport needs <strong>of</strong> our core services – legislativerepresentation and education. Byway <strong>of</strong> history, until 2009, our long rangeplan had included dues increases <strong>of</strong> 10percent per year, with a target <strong>of</strong> increasingdues over time to fully fund these coreservices from dues alone.Currently, dues account for about ninepercent <strong>of</strong> our income, and are incrediblylow by comparison to any similar association.Even a ten percent increase, at currentrates, yields less than $60,000 total.The rest <strong>of</strong> our income is about 17 percentfrom managing our affiliates, and about 59percent from our insurance and memberservice programs. Meetings managementand technology services account forabout five percent each, and the remaindercomes from miscellaneous sources.At its August meeting during the <strong>Annual</strong>Conference, the Board will take action onparameters for staff development <strong>of</strong> the2012 budget, and my report at the Conference’sTuesday business meeting shouldgive you better guidance on what to expectas you begin your own budget preparations.Then in early Fall, as provided inthe bylaws, we will have the <strong>Association</strong>’sproposed budget and the specific duesproposal sent to you. As a reminder, theBoard adopts the coming year budget atits fall Conference, but the membershipitself votes on the strategic plan and thedues schedule at that same meeting.This financial report is derived from ourannual audit, a copy <strong>of</strong> which we e-mailedto each chief clerk and county executiveearlier in the year. If you would like acopy give your e-mail address to CCAPFinance Director Pam Szajnuk. In thatcontext, I am again commending Pam foryet another annual audit that had no managementcomments <strong>of</strong> any kind – none.Let me conclude by thanking you forhaving had the opportunity to serve CCAPas its Treasurer for the last eight years,a post I give up as I retire from countygovernment at the end <strong>of</strong> this term. I havetruly enjoyed the experience – the abilityto contribute at the state level, the variety<strong>of</strong> activities I have been privileged toparticipate in, the pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism <strong>of</strong> ourstaff, and the friendships I have had withall <strong>of</strong> you.Donna HartleTreasurerClarion <strong>County</strong><strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 2011 <strong>County</strong> <strong>Commissioners</strong> <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pennsylvania</strong>9