by Sandee Steinberg, Chair, Finance Committee

We are in the final stages of preparing the church budget for fiscal year 2026–2027, which runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

The process began in late fall 2025, when we asked committees, ministries, and staff to estimate their expenses and anticipated income. The Personnel Committee provided projections for staff costs, including a cost-of-living adjustment. Using this information, we worked with the Board and the Stewardship Committee to set a goal for the annual pledge campaign.

Now that the pledge campaign is nearing completion, we can compile this information and develop a draft budget. Thank you to everyone who has pledged. Your support enables us to continue UUCWC’s work and make more informed financial decisions.

This year brought some uncertainty, particularly regarding the assistant minister position. As Rev. Kim announced, we were unable to hire for that role for the coming year. We have revised the draft budget accordingly and presented it to the Board. As of this writing, we are awaiting final pledge numbers. While we still anticipate a deficit budget, it is significantly smaller than originally projected. In discussions with the Board, we have also explored creative ways to increase income and reduce expenses.

We will share more detailed budget information with the congregation in the coming weeks. In May, the Board, Treasurer Denny Rodgers, and I will host two listening circles to review the budget and gather your feedback. Please watch for dates and times in upcoming church communications and plan to attend if you can—your input is important.

Our annual budget meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 31. At that time, Denny and I will present a detailed overview of the proposed budget and UUCWC’s current financial position, and we will answer your questions. The full proposed budget will be shared in advance for your review.

The congregation will vote on the budget at the annual meeting in June. At that meeting, only a high-level summary will be presented, so we encourage you to ask detailed questions beforehand—either at the budget meeting, by contacting Denny (treasurer@uucwc.org) or me (finance@uucwc.org), or by speaking with us at church.