Delegates to the 2009 Spring Delegate Assembly in Albany unanimously adopted an annual operating budget of $8.3 million that reflects the union’s priorities for 2009-2010: service to the membership, outreach activities and recruitment of new activists.

“Our delegates understand that the budget presented for their consideration has gone through a rigorous review by the Audit and Finance committees, and that the union obtained maximum input from members when preparing it,” said UUP Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud. “This budget reflects extensive discussions and debate at the statewide and chapter levels.”

In her report to delegates, Blackman-Stroud noted that UUP negotiated a total of nearly $1.2 million in direct support from NYSUT, up by nearly $100,000 from the previous year.

The union will receive a one-time lump sum payment of $125,000 from the NYSUT  Solidarity Fund to support UUP’s outreach advertising campaign. The total amount allocated for annual outreach activities is $625,000.

In addition, the spending plan includes a supplemental allocation of $135,000 to support chapter development activities, such as   internal organizing projects for part-time, academic and professional members.

The UUP Executive Board approved a change to the child care/elder care reimbursement policy, which is reflected in the budget. Reimbursement for overnight care of a child or elder has increased from $20 to $35. The daytime reimbursement of $50 remains the same.

Blackman-Stroud thanked the union’s Audit and Finance Committees, chapter treasurers and the UUP Accounting Department for their guidance in developing this year’s budget.

— Karen L. Mattison