2010 Budget

 

A Message from the Finance Chair:

 

As chair of our Church’s Finance Committee, I want to provide you a status on the budget for our 2010 ministries.  The budget process has given us a new perspective on the dedication and enthusiasm of our staff and committees in growing our ministries and has built our resolve to support that growth.  I am thankful to work with a dedicated Committee focused on making the most of the resources God is providing.

 

As part of the process, the Church Finance Committee performed a line by line review of expected offerings and the 2010 budget requests.  Based on the congregation’s Offering Commitment cards and an estimate of unpledged offerings, we expect nearly $506,700 for Operating Ministries in 2010.  The initial budget requests totaled about $551,700, which includes 100% of our Connectional Ministry obligations, also known as our Apportionment.  

 

In 2009 we faced a dramatic drop off in offerings and we made the difficult decision to make up part of our shortfall by not paying 100% of our Apportionment. This was the first time in many years that College Place had not paid at least 100% of our Apportionment.  The Apportionment actually consists of twenty one different funds, including retired clergy support, World Services support and conference / district administration.  In 2009, we committed to meet 63% of our obligation.  However, thanks to the generosity of several individuals, our actual support of Apportionments in 2009 was over 71%.  The Finance Committee and Church Council agreed that one of our priorities in 2010 is to pay 100% of this obligation. 

 

This year, after prioritizing the budget requests, and making some difficult decisions, we came to a point where we believed that further cuts will have unacceptable impacts on the growth of our ministries.  We arrived at projected budget needs of $517,400, or $10,700 more than our estimated offerings.  At this point, the committee discussed our congregation’s ability and willingness to close that gap. We decided that, if we adequately communicated our situation, our congregation would step up to keep the growth in their ministries on track.  Simply put if each person will offer an additional $22.00 in 2010, the $10,700 deficit will be made up easily. 

   

A recent Sunday bulletin noted that 2009 offerings failed to meet pledged commitments by over 16%, nearly $58,600.  In the same period nearly $104,500 was given for designated purposes, up nearly $27,000 over 2008.  More details have been posted on the bulletin board in the church hallway.  After discussing these trends, the committee wants to make sure the congregation understands the relationship between designated giving and the Operating Ministries.  Offerings made for a designated purpose are not available for use in the Operating Ministries.  Please remember that designated giving offset by reduced giving to Operating Ministries could impact our ability to pay Operating expenses, including salaries and utilities.   

 

College Place United Methodist Church folks have demonstrated their ability to make things happen.   Just look back over the past four decades to see how far we have come.  We are confident that, armed with this information and the power of the Holy Spirit, we will continue to grow and have one our most successful years of ministry ever.

 

In God’s service with you,

Mike Curto, Finance Chair

 

To view the approved budget for 2010, please click here for a pdf file.