Good news/Bad news - funding

I'm looking forward to the day when the good news doesn't have to be accompanied by bad news.  But at least the bad news does have some good news to go along with it.

We were successful in 2 of our 3 proposals for TIG funding (Technology Initiative Grants) from LSC.  This will bring in $30,000 next year.  One project will expand on our domestic pleading prep HotDocs system, which Ken will introduce on December 6th.  The other will help streamline the up front portion of the intake system and make the massive intake manual obsolete. 

We also have word, though not official yet, that we will receive $40,000 from the Utah Bar Foundation, with an additional $30,000 specifically for the Southern Utah Community Legal Center, our St. George office.  The Bar Foundation administers IOLTA funds, Interest on Lawyer's Trust Account dollars.

Offsetting this of course is the news I think all of you have seen: a house/senate conference agreement proposes a 14.85% reduction in LSC funding for 2012.  This appears very likely to pass and means a reduction in our LSC funding of about $325,000.  (Our total LSC funding in 2011 was about 2.2 million, next year it looks to be about 1.875 million.)

We'll keep you posted as things change for better or worse, or become official good or bad news.  Meanwhile enjoy the holiday and stay thankful that there is some good news.