The State Bar has been burning through its reserves, and needs to increase its license and program fees, the state auditor reported April 13.
The Bar’s general fund reserve fell from $19 million to $12.4 million in two years, from 2020 to 2022, despite a policy that required the Bar to have $16 million in reserves, the auditor report said. The Bar also predicts that its revenue will fall $4.3 million short of its expenses in 2023. Licensing fee revenue pays for 80% of the State Bar’s administrative costs, the report said.
The Bar agreed with the auditor.
“The recognition of the need for a licensing fee increase to
