Understanding the New SAFE-D Dues Structure

A Letter from the SAFE-D Executive Director:
Every Executive Director for every association everywhere will tell you the column they cringe at writing the most is the “dues are going up” column. I was no exception, and have been absolutely dreading writing this.
At least I was dreading it. A funny thing happened as I sketched out how to convey the message that SAFE-D’s annual membership dues are increasing – I got excited.
That’s because I understand the motivation behind the plan and believe in the vision that the Board of Directors and I have for deploying additional Association resources.
Straight and to the point: dues are going up (see the new dues schedule above). But here are a few points I would like you to consider:
• This is the first dues increase in over 12 years. There’s actually some dispute about when exactly the Association last raised dues, as records from back then aren’t as reliable. But it’s been that long (at least 2012 or before.) In that time, the Association has grown considerably (along with many ESD revenues) and, as we all know, costs have escalated greatly.
• Lower-revenue ESDs are unaffected by the change. For ESDs with annual tax revenues of $500,000 or lower, dues are staying the same. Now we understand that ESDs of all sizes face financial challenges, but we feel that our smaller revenue ESDs are less able to sustain a dues increase.
• The new dues system is more equitable. As you can see, under the old structure, an ESD with $550,000 in tax revenues is paying the same dues as an ESD with $15 million. That doesn’t make sense, and the new system attempts to make the dues structure fairer.
• We’re dedicated to keeping training costs low. Registration fees for the 2025 Annual Conference will be the same as they have been for the past several years, even though we’re expanding the Conference (see Page 3 of the Fall 2024 Newsletter). In addition, we want to make sure there are a bevy of low-cost workshop and webcast offerings, in addition to a more robust “On Demand” training library. ESD commissioner training is the core of what we do, and we feel a responsibility to provide it in the most economically feasible manner possible. But putting these trainings on still costs money. Along those lines…
• SAFE-D wants and NEEDS to do more. In addition to increasing educational training options (without raising fees), we want to expand every other aspect of the Association. We want to offer the membership more resources for running their Districts, do more outreach (both within the emergency service world and to the public at large), and be a more consistent advocate for Emergency Services Districts across the state of Texas. In short, it’s time to grow up and fully realize the burgeoning potential of this organization.
One of the first efforts (in case your reaction to the “dues news” was, understandably, “Where is the money going?”) is the hiring of an Assistant Executive Director. If we’re going to take this organization to the next level, I’m going to need some help. So see Page 12 of the most recent newsletter for more on that development.
I understand that, despite whatever case I may be able to make, this is still not going to be your favorite part of the newsletter. If you have any questions or concerns (a.k.a. “if you just want to ream someone out about it”), give me a call (512-251-8101, ext,. 1002). I’ll personally hear you out.
It’s my job, and I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to have it.
Clay Avery
Executive Director, SAFE-D