APA-KY Annual Meeting

APA-KY will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park as part of our Spring Conference schedule. The awards ceremony and annual meeting are slated to begin at 2:45 pm, but check the final program for the actual meeting time.

The APA-KY Board will consider adoption of changes to the Chapter Development Plan, bylaws and chapter dues structure. APA requires that each state chapter’s strategic plan be updated every two years and bylaws be updated every four years. Copies of the proposed changes to each document are posted on the APA-KY website for review prior to the May 18th meeting. 

While there are not significant changes proposed to the Chapter Development Plan, there are two significant bylaws changes proposed. First, as recommended by APA, APA-KY has moved our election cycle to synch with the APA election cycle which necessitates changes to the bylaws to reflect the timing for nominations, ballots, voting, etc. The second proposed change to the bylaws is to allow the membership to vote on changes to dues structure at the annual meeting. 

APA National has mandated that, by the end of 2017, all chapters migrate from a flat rate due (ours is currently $35) to a sliding scale based on a percentage of each member’s APA dues (APA National dues are based on each member’s annual income). Kentucky’s flat rate was last increased in 2010 from $25 to $35. This change is important for a couple of reasons. First, tying chapter dues to the income-based formula for APA dues is inherently more equitable. Kentucky members who are in lower-paid positions will pay lower chapter dues than members who earn more. Second, a percentage-based dues structure will provide greater financial stability to the chapter and avoid the need for the chapter to periodically revisit the dues structure.  Based on current revenue from dues, the executive committee anticipates recommending a 17% rate which will maintain revenue slightly above current. Analyzing a sample of 2016 APA-KY membership data, with a 17% rate, salaries less than $50,000 should see a dues decrease, salaries between $50,000 and $80,000 should see an increase between $3 and $10 per year and salaries greater than $80,000 should see an increase between $15 and $30 per year. Based on this data, approximately 40% of APA-KY membership will see a decrease in dues, 40% will see a very modest increase, and the remaining 20% will see a more significant increase.
APA-KY remains committed to providing the highest possible level of service to its members and chapter dues are the primary funding source for these services. We strive to provide quality continuing education opportunities around the state for both planners and planning commission/board of adjustment members, networking opportunities, access to job and RFP/RFQ postings, newsletters and email communications, and legislative advocacy.

I hope and trust that all members will understand that APA-KY is following the mandate established by APA National, and while dues will increase for a portion of the membership, the executive committee has worked diligently to analyze the data and propose a percentage that is in keeping with current revenue and this is not an effort to significantly increase revenue. This is evident in the fact that of the 27 chapters that have already converted to the percentage based dues, two have adopted 15%, one 18%, and the remaining chapters range between 25% and 45%.

Brian Howard, AICP
APA-KY Presisent