At Sunday’s budget meeting, after opening with prayer and establishing a quorum, the congregation took up the discussion of the 2020 Budget.
As presented, the budget showed a significant shortfall of $91,000 but a generous anonymous donor cut that in half with a donation of $45,500.
The Church Council made significant cuts to several line items in an attempt to reduce the deficit (suspension of the Lambert Fund dispersal to our 5 standing Board-directed funds, removal of Cost of Living increase for all staff, decrease of Health Insurance dollars available, other decreases in spending across the board).
This Budget & Budget Policy were passed, with the request from members to restore some expenditures – most significantly, the Health Insurance line items for Pastor and Office Administrator.
Members were asked to share their priorities of line items for the Church Council to consider increasing. They were in the areas of the church website (advertising with Google to make our church show up first on a search) & updating it, increased updated communication & the ability to tell our story to potential new members, restoring Mission Board spending, restoring the Lambert Fund distribution, and equity in (health) insurance spending for staff. Finance Board will meet on December 10, and Church Council on December 17. Both bodies will take up the amended 2020 Budget for discussion, with special focus on the areas just mentioned.
Many thanks to all who attended this meeting and participated in the deliberation.
–Dave Kobersmith, Church Administrator
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