Finance Council
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Dear Parishioners: November 4, 2006

This insert in today's Bulletin provides you with a report on the Parish finances for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006.

From an operating perspective, the Parish generated a small surplus of $10,118 for the 2006 fiscal year. We are genuinely grateful for the support you give that enables St. Louis to provide the variety of ministries that we do.

The pie charts within show the sources of revenue and expense for the Parish, Noteworthy is that our revenues come overwhelmingly from the weekly collections (75% of total revenues), while our major expenses are in the areas of Catholic School Support (26% of total expenses), General Parish (19%), and Facilities Maintenance (15%), with the rest of our expenses directed towards Christian Formation, Church Liturgy, Tithing, Pastoral Care, and other ministries.

You may note the TGA expense category in the attached pie chart. The expense here represents the amount by which St. Louis parishioners collectively fell short of our Thanks Giving Appeal goal this past year, which shortfall was required to be made up from the Parish finances.

The Parish salary and benefits, which costs are included within each of the Expense categories in the attached pie chart, aggregate approximately $427,341. The year-over-year salary and benefits increases reflected therein are approximately 3% and 10%, respectively.

Though we are already well into our 2007 fiscal year, your continued generous support is critical. As in your personal budget, we, too, face cost increases in such expense areas as insurance, healthcare, and utilities. Our ability to absorb these cost increases is heavily dependent on increases in donations and sacrificial giving to the Parish. Of course, there are some who are simply unable to increase their giving due to family expenses or being on a fixed income, making it all the more important that the rest of us to do our best for the Parish.

Our goal continues to be that every household participates in sacrificial giving to St. Louis Parish to the extent they are able. We sincerely thank those of you who do currently participate, and earnestly request those of you who are not regular contributors to join in the Stewardship of Treasure. Of the 2154 registered families at Saint Louis, eighty percent give on a regular basis (envelopes or automatic withdrawal). If you would like to consider automatic withdrawal as a user-friendly way of sacrificial giving, please contact Birdie Proctor (586-5675) at the Ministry Center for more information.

The Parish, in addition to the break-even operating performance noted above, did receive additional monies through this year's receipt of the Parish portion of the Diocesan Partners in Faith (PIF) campaign ($117,939). As per a resolution adopted by the Parish Council, ten percent of the PIF receipts go to tithing, with the excess PIF funds placed into existing endowment funds the Parish has in place for future use, both specified and unspecified.

Saint's Place continues to be a wonderfully successful ministry at Saint Louis. The variety of Saint's Place support and outreach activities continues to grow under the leadership of Colleen Knauf, along with the support of many generous volunteers and donors, and her continued successful experience in gaining grants from other support organizations.

Subsequent to the 2006 fiscal year, the Parish purchased the house at 21 Rand Place, with the approval of the Pastoral Council and Finance Council. The purchase price of the property was $348,000. A committee has been set up to make recommendations to the Pastoral Council on possible longer-term uses. This committee has begun meeting and is led by Rich Smerbeck. In the meantime, as no permanent Parish use has yet been determined for the house, we have rented it for the next year.

To provide some context, when the Partners in Faith campaign was beginning in 2003, each parish was required to determine how any money returned to the parishes from the Diocese would be used. At that time, the St. Louis Facilities Committee recommended to the Pastoral Council that the purchase of neighboring property (21 Rand Place was specifically mentioned for increased parking) be considered. The Council set two goals for any funds returned to the parish from Partners in Faith: increasing the Endowment Funds of the parish and the purchase of such property.

Finally and importantly, we want to thank you for the tremendous support this financial report reflects. While we face challenging and uncertain times, we face the future with great confidence in the generosity of the People of St. Louis. Many thanks.

May the Good Lord bless you for the many ways you share your Time, Talent, and Treasure!

Father Kevin , Pastor                              Edward Kay, Chair of Finance Council

  
 

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2005 – JUNE 30,2006