Frequently Asked Questions about St. Mark’s Budget

Where does our money come from?

Last year, 91 percent of our income came from pledges made by members of the parish, 4 percent came from passing the plate on Sunday mornings, and the remaining 5 percent came from special offerings, bank interest, and fees that people pay to use the church buildings.

In addition, many church activities are on a “pay-as-you-go” basis, such as Christian Education classes, social events, and the trip to Honduras. These funds go into accounts specifically designated for these activities and are not included in the annual budget.

Where does our money go?

This year, we allocated 50 percent of our budget to pay for salaries and other payroll-related expenses for clergy and staff, 25 percent to repair and maintain the church and Baxter House, 12 percent to support the Diocese and our parish outreach programs, 8 percent to cover administrative costs (such as phones, office suppliers, copiers and computers), and 5 percent to support programs within the parish (such as worship, Sunday school, parish life and youth programs).

Where did the figure $925,000 come from as a target for the Canvass?

In the summer of every year, the Finance Committee puts together a Current Services budget. This “first draft” of the parish budget for the next year reflects what it would cost to provide the same level of services the following year without any increases in funding for programs. The only changes are for anticipated or known increases, such as a cost-of-living adjustment for clergy and staff, health insurance premiums, property insurance premiums, and utilities.

The Current Services budget for 2008 anticipates expenditures of $973,000+. We anticipate around $62,000 in non-pledge income next year, so we need around $911,000 in pledge income to provide the same level of services next year. Achieving our Canvass goal of $925,000 would also allow us to pay for preventive maintenance on our buildings to avoid costly repairs in the future, and fund expanded outreach efforts that flow from Paul’s sabbatical themes.

How does the final budget get put together?

In October, the managers for the various parish programs will meet with the Vestry and the Finance Committee to outline their plans for next year and to request the funding needed to carry them out. With that input, the Vestry then meets to determine its budget priorities for 2008. In November and December, the Finance Committee puts together a second draft of the budget for review by the Vestry that takes all of this information into account. In January, the Vestry will vote on the final budget for 2008.

Will there be any additional Canvasses during the next year?

No. In our church, we only conduct one annual Canvass. Everything that members contribute goes into our operating funds for the next year.

The Current Services budget reflects all anticipated increases in expenditures for next year. If we do not raise the $973,000 necessary to fund this budget, the Vestry will trim the budget to fit whatever funds are available. The Vestry is committed to living within the budget, and reviews the financial situation in the parish on a monthly basis.

In addition, we have been setting aside $3,000 every month to cover the cost of additional repairs to the church and Baxter House that we know are needed. Performing preventive maintenance on our buildings should allow us to avoid further crises.