Federal Times today reported that OPM “plans to charge charities a first-ever application fee starting in 2015 to join the Combined Federal Campaign….” The Federal Times article [no longer available online] notes that the agency’s FY 14 Budget Justification includes language that indicates OPM’s intent. OPM had previously stated its wish to institute such a fee in draft regulations released in early April 2013. The Budget Justification is a second formal document, this time intended for Congress.
The critical language is found on page 140 of the OPM document:
“OPM received legislative permission to finance the CFC program via an administrative fee charged to each participating charity; and will begin collecting the fee during FY 2015. “
FY 15 begins October 1, 2014. The language suggests that OPM hopes that the regulations will become final in 2013 and that there will be sufficient time to implement the intended structural changes such that the program could begin charging an application fee for charities wishing to participate in the 2015 CFC.
The government has not announced the scale of the application fee, and we have expressed our concern that the fee could be substantial, leading many national and local groups to drop out of the program.
The Federal Times article does not address the government’s phrase “legislative permission.” Our own research leaves us wondering what it means since those we consulted could not offer any legal or legislative definition.
“OPM received legislative permission to finance the CFC program via an administrative fee charged to each participating charity; and will begin collecting the fee during FY 2015. “
FY 15 begins October 1, 2014. The language suggests that OPM hopes that the regulations will become final in 2013 and that there will be sufficient time to implement the intended structural changes such that the program could begin charging an application fee for charities wishing to participate in the 2015 CFC.
The government has not announced the scale of the application fee, and we have expressed our concern that the fee could be substantial, leading many national and local groups to drop out of the program.
The Federal Times article does not address the government’s phrase “legislative permission.” Our own research leaves us wondering what it means since those we consulted could not offer any legal or legislative definition.
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