by Doug Webbink

At the end February, 2016, after 8 months or 66% of the fiscal year, our church continues to be in a reasonably good financial position.  Revenues for 8 months totaled $349,871 and expenses were $309,831, which yields a net income of $40,039.  Current year pledges were $288,907, which was $19,574 above the amount budgeted for the first 8 months.

A few revenue items continue to be below the amount budgeted.  For example, building user fees were only 59% of the amount budgeted (because of limited rental space available, due to the lower hall construction).  Fund raising income was 66% of the amount budgeted.  Grocery Scrip profit plus Scrip rebates were 79% of the amount budgeted.

In general, nearly all expense items for the first 8 months were at or below the amount budgeted, with a few exceptions.  For example, church electricity cost was about 120% of the amount budgeted, which likely reflects a problem with the heat pump system which has been repaired or will be repaired soon.  Grounds maintenance was about 120% of the amount budgeted.  However, in the past, the budget was created by assuming that one twelfth of the annual revenues and annual expenses occur each month, and that is not necessarily true.