1. There shall be a standard rate for the ACM allocation for each small conference and that rate shall be set at the current maximum rate minus 6%. For example, for FY 2007 it would be 16%-6% = 10%.This is applied to the total operating expenses for the small conference, e. g., if the expenses were $100,000 then the ACM allocation would be $10,000.

Before this policy was approved the rates varied for the different small conferences and were generally between 14-16% of the total expenses. So, this new policy accomplishes two objectives. The first is that a standard rate is fairer and each conference would know what to expect. The second is that it would save each small conference money and provide more incentive for the small conferences. The allocation must come from somewhere, e. g. the general EC operating budget. For example, this year (FY 2007) the difference between the current varied allocation scheme and the proposed flat rate is about $22,000, which would have to come from the EC general budget.

2. ACM SIGGRAPH will create a Small Conference Reserve Fund. When a small conference makes a profit then the next year the organizers of the conference can write a grant proposal for up to 50% of the profit for something that would enhance their conference. For example, if a conference made an excess profit of $10,000 then the following year they could write a proposal for up to $5,000. This provides an incentive for the organizers to save as much money as they can since they know that they can ask for the use of part of the profit the next year. The proposals would be evaluated in a similar fashion as the Special Project proposals are now, i. e., with external evaluations and the final decision made by the Vice President. The financial impact of this is expected to be small, probably less than $10,000 per year.