Meeting Minutes Feb. 12, 2015

Minutes of the

Committee on Program and Budget

February 12, 2015

Members Present:

Bob Batchelor, Sunil Chandy (via Skype), Greg deGroot, Betsy Fornal, Linda Grenz, Bishop Knisely, David Lucey, Ann Rheault, Peter Tierney,

Meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm. 

The group welcomed new member Sunil Chandy, rector of Christ Church, Westerly, who joined the meeting via Skype.

Budget Review

All information is now on the ACS Church Accounting Software system.  The 6-page Analysis of Revenues & Expenses Summary represents a condensation of all 600 accounts on the ledger, and now the Committee on Finance and other committees have this condensed version.

Budget Worksheet 2015 – All Diocese combines apportioned and non-apportioned (endowment) and now has a 2016 column.

Income (pp. 1-6): total revenue budgeted for 2015 is $3,827,000.  Expenses (pp. 6-24)

Theoretical question: Is this the year we go to a zero-based budget?

Answer: No. The 2015 Task Force is wrapping up its five-year process of strategic planning, involving a review of existing resources, missions and structures.  It was agreed that we should receive, digest and act on their report and recommendations before overhauling the budget structure.  2017 might be the year to rebuild the budget from the ground up.

The first budget hearings are set for May 6 and 7.  We are trying to get input from the committees and entities that receive budget dollars before we actually work on the budget, so we should encourage them to attend.  Ask Communications Director Ben Sibielski what we should call these hearings to make them appealing.

Suggestion: in the budget report, boldface line items that we cannot change, and just discuss discretionary items. 

Episcopal Conference Center (ECC) represents a big chunk of the diocesan budget (10% ofdiscretionary) but is also a huge goodwill PR positive for the diocese.  Strategic planning would be helpful in moving towards sustainability and funding new projects, like the Bishop Wolf Conference Center, which could be rented out for retreats and other meetings.

Budget Big picture: $3.2 million budget, $1.5 million non-apportioned (endowment), $1.5 million apportioned, $300-400K pass-through from Episcopal Charities.

Next Meeting: Thursday, March 12, 2014 @ 5:00 p.m. in the Higgins Room.

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Kane Rheault