by Sandee Steinberg, Chair, Finance Committee

We are more than halfway through the 2025–2026 fiscal year, and I’d like to share an update on the church’s finances and our budget process.

We began planning the 2026–2027 budget in November by asking committees, ministries, and staff for projected expenses. A major component is staff compensation. The Personnel Committee provided those figures using a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment based on the Social Security Administration’s COLA. We also projected church income based on recent trends.

In January, we presented a draft budget to the board so they could work with Stewardship to set a goal for the annual pledge drive. The proposed budget includes funding for a half-time assistant minister to replace Lisa when she leaves—recognizing that no one can truly replace her. The initial draft showed a deficit of more than $70,000, and the board asked us to reduce that to $50,000.

To do so, we recommended lowering our UUA contribution, reducing transfers to the Facilities Reserve, and retaining all auction proceeds rather than sharing a portion with an outside charity. We are now waiting for final pledge totals, which will help determine next year’s budget. Thank you to everyone who has pledged; every contribution helps us meet our church’s goals.

We will begin the final budget review in April, once stewardship results are complete. At that point, we will know whether additional adjustments are needed before presenting a final draft to the board. In May, after board approval, we will share the detailed budget with the congregation and follow up with a high-level version for a vote at the annual meeting.

Questions or comments are always welcome at finance@uucwc.org. We value your feedback, and broad participation helps ensure the budget reflects the congregation’s priorities.