Agenda Packets - 1987/06/01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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briefs would have cost a paying client between $35,000 and $65,000. To date, 35 of the Legal Center's briefs have been pre- - pared with the help of these public-spirited law firms. Thus, we estimate $1,225,000 to $2,275,000 in lerlal advice generously contributed to assist state and local governments. 14. Why did the Board of Trustees choose a range of fund Although the Academy for State and Lncal Government was suc- cessful in persuading the Pew Memorial Trust of the efficacy of supporting the creation of. the Center, that foundation and others approached for long-term support asked a simple question: What are the states and localities doing to protect their own interests? The trustees recognized the legitimacy of the question. In consultation with the governing structure of each of the seven national organizations, optional funding plans were presented that recognized the wide arrAy of resource allocation preferences of states and localities. The three city organizations, the National League of Cities, the United States Conference of Mayors, and the International City Management Association, decided that one-time payments to an endowment fund would best generate the stable financial support necessary for a small core staff for the Legal Center, without the need for annual campaigns among their many jurisdictions. The three city organizations felt strongly that city governments would prefer to make one-time payments to establish the Legal Center rather than to create another organization in Washington asking local governments annually for dues. Members were polled and indicated their preference for this funding mechanism. The National Association of Counties decided to defray its share of the annual cost of the Legal Center out of its organiza- tion's budget. The three state -based organizations, the National Governors' Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Council of State Governments, developed a three -tiered stra- tegy for the states. In brief, the three-tier option plan allows a state to select the funding method best meeting its needs. A state may make an annual appropriation, or an equivalent, one- time, special assessment, which may be paid over one or three years. The Academy has established a legally binding set of proce- dures to assure that funds collected to carry out the activities of the Legal Center are user] for that purpose. Payments are deposited in an irrevocable secured trust fund to he used only to support the Legal Center; the income from the funs] (none of the principal) will be used to support the Legal Center's annual operating budget. -]0-