Feb 2023

Pastoral Council Minutes, Feb 21, 2023
The mission of St. Mary Parish is to make Christ real in our communities by
 living the Gospel, worshipping together and serving others
 
Present:  Elizabeth Amsberry, Leo Beschorner, Michelle Even (by ZOOM), Nathan Heitz, Val King, Mary Jo Stromberg, Joe Barber (by ZOOM), Sandy Risvold, Phil  Paladino, Father Doug Wathier
 
Call to order: Nathan Heitz at 7:05 p.m.
Prayer:               Father Doug
 
Minutes from January meeting reviewed and approved as written. Reviewed and accepted minutes from Finance Council, Faith Formation Commission, Peace and Justice Committee and Parish Life Committee.
 
Finance Council

1. Year-to-date we are doing very well with our budget. We are running ahead on offertory giving and below budget for expenses. This is mainly do to reduced salaries because of open positions. 
2. This evening, we started the budget process for the next fiscal year. Draft budget will be presented in March. Recommending 4-5% increase in salaries. Will present three options for rest of budget – decrease 5%, no decrease/increase, increase 5%.
3. Reviewed the Building and Grounds recommendations, including keeping a deferred maintenance fund ear-marked for large expenses.

PHASE 2:

1. We are just short of our $1.5 million goal in pledges. Approximately $877,00 has been received.
2. Proxy has been submitted.
3. Architecture plan is being tweaked along with the final budget estimations.
4. We could accept bids in August and begin digging in October if all goes smoothly.
5. A Building Committee has been formed to help with the building process.
6. There will be another parish meeting to review the plans once they are completed.

 
Staffing:

1. The spring is a good time for college recruitment. We will continue recruitment via college sites, the Archdiocese, and electronic job boards for ministry positions.
2. Should we recruit more strongly within our parish community? 

 
Other: A guideline was implemented in the parish that only kids from last November’s confirmation class could attend this year’s NCYC. Only two students signed up from the approximately 35 in the class. The deadline has passed for sign-up. Concerns regarding the process for sign-up and the low numbers attending were discussed. Will this be the guideline followed in the future? This needs additional discussion prior to next year.
 
As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:40.
The next meeting is March 21, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m.  Minutes prepared by Val King


Finance Council –  Feb 21, 2023
Present: Scott Danner, Becky David, Kelly Flege, Becky Willson, Joe Barber, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs.
Monthly Financials: Offertory is about $4,000 above budget. We have received several gifts from mandatory retirement funds, and parishioners are also making building gifts from these investments for a better tax benefit. Utilities are up slightly due to the cold weather, but within budget levels. Archdiocesan taxa came in within budget.
Phase 2 Building Update:  The total income plus outstanding pledge balances is $1,484,625. This very close to the goal of $1,500,000. The architects will begin working on constructions, then we will meet with the Archdiocesan Building Commission.  Estimated build start will be spring 2024.
Budget 2023/24:

1. Reviewed Building & Grounds recommended short and long-term projects. The priority one projects are $4,400 to replace tiles under the kitchen dishwasher with water-proof vinyl tile (current ones chipped and discolored); $2,200 for floor applicator for wax; and estimated $31,000 for tractor and attachment replacements. The tractor can be financed at 0% interest for 3yrs, and the current tractor can be sold to offset part of the cost. These items will be included in the draft budget for the Mar meeting.
2. Personnel packages were discussed. The Archdiocesan recommendation for priests’ salary increase is the COLA 6.5%. This will be included in the draft budget. A range of 4%, 5% and 6% increase for lay staff will be included for the budget discussion in March.
3. Offertory budget was discussed a flat budget and a +/-10% offertory budget will be included in the draft.

Mar Meeting: Phase 2 update, monthly finances, budget 2023/24, and this year’s budgeted withdrawal from the faith formation endowment.
Meeting adjourned.