May 2008 Board Bulletin

In spite of the efforts of our Canvass and Budget Committees, we head toward our Annual Meeting on 18 May with a deficit budget (-$5774) for fiscal year 08/09. The largest shortfall is in the areas of pledges and fundraising. With the majority of pledges in from current members, the total is about $1,000 less than for this fiscal year. If you have not been contacted to make your pledge, please contact Marian Babbidge or Kay Athos of the Canvass Committee. Fundraising, the other significant source of income for our church, is expected to raise about $3,000 less next year. The Service Auction, our most lucrative fundraiser, is held every other year. Although it is a much-anticipated and lively event, the Service Auction is thought to be too labor intensive to put on every year.

Therefore, in the off years, the fundraising team must contemplate more fundraisers, each of which make less money. We need to figure out a way to even out the financial swing between lean and fat fundraising years. It is well known in the UUA that in churches of our size (roughly 150), finances are frequently a challenge, as we seek to implement our vision of having fairly-paid professional staff, meaningful programs and a generous position in the community.

In drafting the budget for fiscal year 08/09, the Budget Committee held operating expenses close to last year’s level, and saved about $919 in committee expenses. However, expenses for personnel have increased by 4 percent. It is no surprise that in the high cost Bay Area, 76 percent of Starr King’s budget goes to wages and benefits. We will take up the issue of the deficit budget at our Annual Meeting after Sunday service on 18 May, when we begin our single service schedule until the end of the summer.

You will receive a written notice ten days before the meeting, including a copy of the proposed budget. Please familiarize yourself with the budget and bring it with you to the meeting. We’ll be looking at several options for balancing the budget before taking a final vote to approve it. The recommendation of the Budget Committee is that members be asked to pay their own dues to the UUA and PCD ($79 per member) separately from their pledges.

Currently, our church pays $11,400 from members’ pledges to UUA/PCD. It is quickly apparent that, were members willing to pay this small additional amount, our budget would be easily balanced. Other options are 1) using the excess income from this year’s Service Auction or 2) doing a second canvass in the fall.

Meg Jurich, President, Board of Trustees