…and that doesn’t include new TLD costs.
ICANN’s latest proposed budget segments out the core ICANN functions and the new top level domain program.
But even its core functions budget are slated to grow by nearly $12 million next financial year compared to what it expects to spend in the current year (FY 12). Here’s why.
Contractual Compliance: $2.4 million increase
Let’s face it, ICANN’s contractual compliance has historically sucked. Fixing the problem is welcome, and the money will be well spent if it resolves the problems. Here’s how ICANN breaks down and extra 62% in expenses for next year:
– headcount increase from an average of 9 FTE in FY12 to 15 FTE in FY13 for approximately $1.1
million
– Compliance audit for $0.5 million
– Legal allocated costs increase for $0.4 million
– other overhead increases for $0.3 million
Meeting Logistics: $0.9 million increase (or $2.6M)
The cost of meeting logistics will go up next year despite a reduction in the number of meetings. ICANN saves about $1.5 million from the lack of a third meeting, yet still spends $0.9M more than last year. So it’s really a $2.6 million increase if the number of meetings were held constant. Here’s why:
– increase in headcount from 11 FTE to an average of 15 FTE to allow an increase in the size and complexity of the meetings (1 FTE) and the implementation of the language policy
(3 FTE) for a total of $0.5 million,
– increased IT costs related to audio-visual infrastructure at the meetings for $0.3 million
– increased language services costs due to the increased volume of translation and interpretation for approximately $1.2 million
– a meeting costs contingency of $0.3 million
Community Support: $0.8 million increase
This increase is basically due to community requests. It includes more money for travel/sponsorship, meetings, etc.
Global Engagement: $1.4M increase
Keep in mind this is on top of added expenses at ICANN meetings for language services.
– $0.2M increase in publications and information materials
– $0.4M increase in sponsorship contribution and outreach materials
– $0.8M in travel, outside providers and equipment to enhance its multilingual programs.
Ombudsman: $0.1M increase
The Ombudsman’s office is going to cost about $100,000 more in 2013 than in 2012. And when I say office, I mean it. The added costs are primarily attributed to “the additional administrative cost for renting an office and the associated expenses.”
I’d really like to see that office.
Board Support: $0.7M increase
Here’s how it breaks down:
– $0.3M for Board compensation
– $0.2M for additional Board training , communication tools and self assessment,
– $0.2M for an additional Board workshop
Organizational Reviews and Implementation: $0.7M increase
ICANN will spend $3.7M in FY 2013 mainly to comply with the Affirmation of Commitments. That includes implementing some of the recommendations from the Accountability & Transparency Team,
WHOIS policy, etc.
Of course this is just part of the budget difference. See more in the full draft budget.
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