H. RE-EVALUATION COUNSELING COMMUNITIES FINANCES
H.12. Sliding Fee Scales
A sliding scale fee may be used (it is not required) to set the fees for a class or workshop. For an in-person workshop the scale should range from at least eighty (80) percent of the amount needed to cover all costs (the “break-even amount”[125]) to at least five times the break-even amount. (For example, if a fee of $100 per person is needed to cover all costs, the lower end of the sliding scale must be at least $80 and may be set higher. The maximum amount must be at least $500.) Any changes to this formula must be made with the agreement of the IRP.
For online workshops, the scale should range from at least eighty (80) percent of the break-even amount to at least ten times the break-even amount.[126]
The break-even amount and the sliding scale must be stated on any workshop announcements. Outreach Funds for people’s workshop fees should be requested at the break-even level.
Organizers are encouraged to think carefully when creating the scale for each workshop. Sliding scales are based on the number of expected participants and the expected costs of the workshop. The RRP must approve any sliding scale used for an RC workshop in their Region. To work well, sliding scales should be used with ongoing discharge about money, integrity, and economic inequality.
REASON
Sliding scales can help reduce the effects of economic disparity among participants. Sliding scales encourage people with more income and wealth to pay above the break-even amount and allow people with less income and wealth to pay below it. Sliding scales make our workshops more accessible. Outreach Funds can be used for workshop fees and transportation expenses.
It is important to think carefully when creating a sliding scale. Workshop income should not only cover workshop costs. It should also raise adequate funds for the Community Service Fund and Publications Funds (see Guidelines H.4. Class and Area Workshops and Daylong Playdays and H.5. Regional and International Workshops and Gather-ins).
[125] The break-even fee is the estimated cost of a workshop per person. It can be calculated by dividing the total expected costs of the workshop (including the 10% of total income to be paid to the Community Service Fund for in-person workshops [30% of total income for online workshops]) by the number of expected participants.
[126] Since online workshops cost significantly less, the top of the sliding scale is higher. This allows online workshops to contribute income to the Community Service and Publications Funds on the same level as in-person workshops.