While the final numbers are not in yet, it appears that we will finish 2022 with a balanced budget. In order to do so, we will need to transfer a portion of the funds from the Capital Reserve to make up for a shortfall in pledge income. The transfer had been anticipated when the final 2022 budget was approved. We don’t have the exact amount needed from the reserve, but it is expected to be less than the $19,000 that was earmarked for the budget.
On another note, BoB is hard at work crafting the 2023 final budget. As I write this, we have received pledges totaling $805,000, or 96% of our goal. That is outstanding progress, but we still have a way to go to meet our goal. As we mentioned in the October Congregational Meeting, the Challenge Budget was the amount we need to carry out the work of the church, so, if you haven’t already done so, please consider making a pledge to the church.
Looking back over the year, BoB accomplished a lot. Chief among our accomplishments was carried out by the newly formed Building & Grounds subcommittee that oversaw remedial improvements to the West Campus. Among the items that were accomplishments were the re-roofing of the main buildings on the West Campus, remodeling and improving the playground, tree trimming, and in one case the removal of a tree that was infringing on the Education Building, some drainage improvements, and the grinding of the sidewalk from the parking lot to the church. While there are many renewal and repair projects on the horizon, the work done in 2022 was a giant step toward getting our campus repaired. Special thanks go to Liz Harvey, Carol Barron, and the rest of the committee for their hard work.
We also worked closely with the Compensation Task Force as we worked toward the 2023 budget. That group has completed a thorough review of UCG’s compensation and personnel practices, and the result will be a big step forward for the church.
With 2022 behind us, we are looking forward to the new year with confidence. The congregation’s response to the aggressive goal for pledges has been a true measure of just how strong UCG is. Thank you all for your dedication to our community.