Board weighs flat fee, hourly wage and percentage models to boost program revenue

Board members spent substantial time weighing which fee structure would best balance program sustainability and participant equity. S1 presented the Jan–June 2026 usage and wage data and walked the board through modeled revenue outcomes for different fee options.

S1 provided precise mid‑year figures: “At $12 a day, which is our current rate, we're collecting $68,100,” and sketched the estimated incremental income from a $15 flat minimum or from using one hour's wage as the daily charge. Staff noted a $15 flat rate over six months would add an estimated $17,000 in project income, while an hourly‑wage approach could yield a larger increase but requires more staff work to collect pay stubs and calculate daily charges for people not seen in person.

Members raised operational concerns about self‑employed participants and people paid on piece rates or bonuses, where hourly calculations are less straightforward. S4 recommended keeping a simple baseline and developing a clear method for outliers: the majority of participants would exceed a $15 minimum given average wage data, but a minority might need special handling to avoid undue burden.

The board tasked staff to produce scenario tables and an implementation plan that includes administrative cost estimates and an equity check before finalizing any broad application to self‑employed people.