The financial contribution for each commodity board or commission shall be calculated using the following steps:

(1)(a) Step 1 - Using the dollar value that a board or commission receives from its annual assessment, the base contribution portion of a commodity board or commission's share of the total financial contribution is established as follows:

(b) A percentage is calculated for each board or commission by dividing the board or commission's base contribution by the total base contribution for all boards and commissions.

(2)(a) Step 2 - The difference between the total financial contribution and the total base contribution is apportioned to each board or commission using the percentage calculated in step 1.

(b) The amount calculated in step 2 is subject to a $7,500 cap on any one board or commission.

(3) Step 3 - If any board or commission reaches the $7,500 cap in step 2, the difference between the amount calculated for that board or commission in subsection (2)(a) of this section and $7,500 would be apportioned among the remaining boards or commissions using a percentage of each board's or commission's base contribution to the total base contribution less the base contribution of the board or commission that reached the cap.

(4) Step 4 - A commodity board or commission's contribution is the sum of its base contribution from step 1 and the calculations in steps 2 and 3.

(5) The following example is a hypothetical scenario used to illustrate how the formula is applied:

(a) Commission A reports an annual assessment of $200,000, therefore its base contribution is $500.

(b) Assuming the total base contribution for all boards and commissions is $23,750, a percentage is calculated for commission A by dividing its base contribution of $500 by the total base contribution of $23,750, which is 2.11 percent.

(c) Assuming a total financial contribution of $100,000, the difference between the total financial contribution ($100,000) and the total base contribution ($23,750) is $76,250. This amount ($76,250) is apportioned to each commission using the percentage calculated in step 1. For commission A, $76,250 multiplied by 2.11 percent is rounded to $1,605, which is commission A's initial portion of the total financial contribution.

(d) Next, commission A's base assessment ($500) is added to its portion calculated in step 2 ($1,605), which equals $2,105.

(e) If any board or commission hits the $7,500 cap provided for in step 2, the difference between the amount calculated and $7,500 is apportioned among the other boards and commissions not reaching the cap.

(f) For example, commission B has a base contribution of $3,000 and exceeds the $7,500 cap by $2,132. That $2,132 would be apportioned on a percentage basis among the other boards and commissions, excluding commission B.

(g) To find the number in (f) of this subsection for commission A, take the number calculated for commission A in step 2 ($1,605) and divide it by the total step 2 calculations for all boards and commissions, excluding commission B. Assuming the total for all boards and commissions, excluding commission B, is $66,621, the number for commission A is 2.41. Multiply that by the total amount in step 2, including commission B, which equals $51 for commission A.

(h) The total amount owed by commission A is the base assessment in step 1 ($500), plus the amount in step 2 ($1,605), plus the amount in step 3 ($51) for a total contribution of $2,156.

(i) The total amount owed by commission B is the base assessment in step 1 ($3,000), plus the amount in step 2 ($7,500) for a total of $10,500.