1. Exploring Dedicated Funding Models to Support Mandated Operations
Patrick Reed
Washington State
Josef Gasimov
Washington D.C.

2. Ever-changing budgetary challenges
How do you pay for it all?
Ever-changing budgetary challenges
Many jurisdictions face budgetary challenges that can change with each legislative or election cycle.

3. Purpose of this discussion
Explore self-funding financial options
We will look at financial options to support your daily operations with self-funding models from Washington State and the District of Columbia.

4. Why self-funding? Save time Retain people Support needs
Customer service
Save time each year/biennium during the budget cycle
Retain the right amount of people to support business needs
Support infrastructure and technology needs
Most of all, deliver consistent and timely service to customers

5. WA and D.C. before Staff versus volumes Maintenance funding
Heavy backlogs
Not enough staff to keep up with filing or service volumes
Not enough funding to maintain necessary office equipment, supplies, or a filing system
Heavy backlogs, at times as much as 4-6 months to process articles and certificates

6. WA and D.C. after Adequate staffing New filing system
Expanded services
Backlogs are gone
Adequate staffing to support business needs
Developed and launched new filing system
Expanded services and reduced fees
Backlogs are gone, most filings are completed real time or within days of submission

7. How did we do it? (WA) Established funding needs Drafted legislation
Lobbied the legislature
Rallied stakeholders
Established short term and ongoing funding needs
Drafted legislation that was revenue neutral
Lobbied the legislature with the positive impacts to business
Rallied stakeholders and businesses to testify in committees

8. How did we do it? (D.C.) Pending changes to laws
ID’d needs of proposed Act
Rebalanced fee structure
The legislature was preparing to replace and update existing laws
Through involvement with the drafting members identified lack of funding to support changes in the proposed Act.
Rebalanced fee structure to make it less impactful to customers

9. Ongoing challenges Legislation and funding Budget management
Specific fund use
Monitoring developing legislation that could drain funding structure
Managing the budget closely to avoid outside temptation for one-time funding raids
Be diligent with use of funds specific to the intended purpose

10. Summary of benefits Adjustable staffing Eliminated backlogs
Modern filing system
Customer satisfaction
Able to adjust staffing up/down according to needs
Eliminated backlogs
Generated resources to build and maintain a modern filing system
Customer satisfaction is at all time highs

11. Questions Patrick Reed Josef Gasimov
Public & Government Affairs Manager, Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division
Josef Gasimov
Deputy Superintendent of Corporations, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs