FINANCE AND ASSET COUNCIL MINUTES – September 23, 2021

 

Attendees:  Fr. Rob Howe, Pat Regier, Dan Kozakiewicz, Pam Gandy, Andy Pasztor, Bob Gamm, Kevin Spencer, Kathy Fothergill

Reported by:  Fothergill

Opening Comments:  Father Rob recapped recent Parish events.  There were between 400 and 500 people at the Parish Picnic.  The event was a success, notwithstanding some weather issues.  The golf outing also did well, with 24 foursomes.  The Car Show had 70 cars and a good number of attendees, and we plan to repeat this event next year.

Mass attendance is still not back to pre-COVID levels.  Attendance appears to have plateaued.  We are still getting about 100 hits for the online Sunday Mass.

The Legacy Center will not be using any of our school classrooms, as had been planned.  The Diocese currently requires that any adults who work with children on Parish property take a specific child abuse training program.  All Legacy Center volunteers and employees who work with children have already undergone the review process used by Midland Public Schools, and the Legacy Center was not comfortable requiring their volunteers to undergo an additional vetting process.  Our high school Youth Ministry will use the classrooms this year.

Fiscal 2020 – 2021 Results:  Net Assets increased by $356K, driven by higher revenue from Weekend Collections and recognition of 100% of our PPP Loan as income ($246K).  Expenses across most categories were lower.  Major Expenditures Fund increased by $33K due to the ongoing budget tithe plus $200K of the PPP Loan proceeds.  These added funds covered the balance of the roof replacement project and the concrete work done on the entrances of the Parish Center and Church.  School Dedicated Fund reflects our education support for St. Brigid.  Our current year contribution of $45K will complete our two-year commitment to St. Brigid.  Parish cash reserves at the end of the last fiscal year (June 2021) were $2,195,648, an increase of 4% over the prior fiscal-year-end balance.  This amount covers approximately 12 months of Parish operating expenses.

Current Fiscal YTD Results:  Net Assets have increased by $55K.  Weekend Collections were $4K better than Budget, while other revenue sources were down slightly.  Total Expenses were better than Budget in most categories, although this favorable variance may decline as activities pick up in the coming months.

The Parish exceeded our $205,734 target for the 2020 Christ Mission Appeal by approximately $2,200, maintaining the Parish’s 25-year record of exceeding our Appeal targets.  Parish participation was significantly lower this year (30% vs. an average of 55%).  We expect the Diocese will kick off the new appeal in mid-October.  According to the Bishop, we will not have a hard target (although we may be given a “goal”).  The entire appeal process will be handled by the Diocese.

Weekend Collections:  Collections continue to track Budget, which is in line with last year Actual.  Employee Costs and Utilities are the largest Expense components of our Budget.

Facilities Update:  Project to repair and restore Church pews and floors is scheduled to start in January 2022, and take eight weeks to complete.  Estimated cost is $135K.  Church entrance doors are in fair condition.  We will replace thresholds and sweeps at an estimated cost of $20K.  Work on the main entrance doors has already been completed.  Additional projects planned for the next few years include Church carpet (2023); Roof over kitchen, hall and gym (2024); Parish Center roof (2026); School roof over classrooms (2025).

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.