CDS Budget planning

[Jamie Palisades]

As I've discussed with a number of people, we are doing some budget planning in preparation for this term's events. (The current RA and Chancellor terms run from August 2008 through January 2009.)
Expect to see considerably more, posted shortly.
The RA also is involved in CDS expenditures, in at least three ways: (a) I report to them monthly, including on budget and operations. (b) The RA can legislate further constraints on the budget it if wishes. (c) The RA has done so in specifc instances in the past -- for example, there is legislation requiring that stipends to civil servants be paid only in certain circumstances.

In the meantime, I encourage those who are interested to review the budget presentation our CDS treasurer made to the RA, here: http://forums.slcds.info/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1921
And the related forum chat about budget, reserves and expenses here: http://forums.slcds.info/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1940

On a related matter, I will post a revised and more transparent method for CDS expense and reimbursment processing in the next 10 days or so. That is an area where we can do a little better.

Regards Jamie P

[Jamie Palisades]

As previously reported, we have both a conventional budget to prepare, and some possible expansion and development requests to consider, for the current government term.

In the conventional category, we have:
-- the usual sim tier costs.
-- the usual stipends (although I am asking for a change vis a vis PIO).
-- PIO expenses (which include the portal, events and marketing, and I expect those to be greater this term than last).
-- some possible costs associated with land administration software.
-- some possible work on current public buildings that may require funds in limited cases.

In the expansion category, we have:
-- An official proposal from the Monastery NGO.
-- The question of whether to further expand with voids or conventional sims.
-- (By inference) The policy question of what degree of cash reserves always should be maintained.

As I've discussed with other government heads, I expect to being detailed plans to the RA by the end of August.

Comments always welcome.
Regards Jamie P