News From Around Orthodox America

AOCA Finances and Budget?
Why not borrow $191,000 [projected shortfall] from the earnings on over $20 million in endowments we hold and pay back the endowment funds with interest when the economy recovers – probably before 2011. Those endowments earned several million dollars last year – why can’t we shake loose 191K if absolutely necessary? Let’s take a good hard look at our endowments and put a portion of the earnings to use if this is a real crisis.
Cut the budget across the board by approx. 3.5% [balances the budget]- a proposal that is not entirely unreasonable or out of line – every parishioner is doing it at home and at work and we expect the Church to do nothing less. This sacrifice amounts to the average ‘cost of living increase’ which everyone who works for a living forsook this year – surely the Church can show leadership by doing the same.
Decrease the budget allocation to each department and balance the budget. In a drastically down economy we are all familiar with cutting back – freezing salaries is an obvious necessity but it really can’t be considered cutting back – slashing line items is the hard work of balancing budgets. Any department should expect to operate on less [3.5%] and make the necessary adjustments on expenses and services – [decreased allowances, fewer staff, less travel, fewer mailings, scaled back programs] it may impact the parishes but this is reasonable and acceptable for the short term – as the economy recovers the department budgets can be reevaluated. Department heads have a responsibility to scale back expenses.
Take a good look at the current annual report that lists each parish and their contribution for a two year period – substantial decreases [ in the $10,000 to $20,000 range ] from several parishes jump off the page. What’s the story here? It isn’t a factor of unemployment since giving from nearby parishes has increased. Look at the demographics – something’s wrong here. If every parish pays their fair share and there is still a shortfall then make a case across the Archdiocese and everyone will do their part – but no one wants to pay for slackers. The bishops, the ‘trustees’ and the finance committee need to go after the slackers first and then get back to us.
No household, no business, no corporation, no institution, no country [with the exception of a third world dictatorship] would propose additional taxes without demonstrating leadership and responsibility by cutting back on expenses and making a serious effort to collect what is already owed. Not to do so is to risk incurring a hostile reaction from the very people who constitute the ‘household’. As Fr. George K. so poignantly observes “emotions are running high right now”. Let’s avoid another lightning strike and take ownership of our budget – cut it and live with it for a while or borrow from our income and pay ourselves back later. Leave the current program alone – goodness knows it was achieved only recently and after long and exhaustive debate – all things being equal, it works – keep it at 10% - allow for reasonable deductions [the IRS does no less] – collect from the slackers. In any case let’s see that everyone gives proportionately; sharing one another’s burden.