Budget is far too high [CORRECTED VERSION]

[George Kirikos <gkirikos@xxxxxxxxx>]

[in my prior submission, one point was duplicated by mistake]

The proposed 2010 (and prior budgets) are far too high. Spending should be 
reduced by at least 50%, with savings passed on to domain registrants, by:
 
1) elimination of the new gTLD program which not only creates new costs for 
ICANN, but also imposes massive negative externalities upon the rest of the 
internet
 
2) using non-profit (instead of for-profit) comparables when determining 
emloyee compensation, see:

http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090105_icann_for_profit_companies_comparables/
 
3) cease speculation with the emergency reserve funds, and either return the 
excess to registrants, or place them in risk-free securities, as per:
 
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090203_icann_blows_46_million_stock_market/
 
4) reducing the number of ICANN meetings to no more than 2 per year
 
5) elimination of the fellowship program which has not led to increased 
community participation by those taking advantage of it (sometimes multiple 
times) for free travel to ICANN meeting locations

6) tendering telephone providers to ensure that the lowest  cost suppliers are 
used
 
Sincerely,

George Kirikos
http://www.leap.com/