Read the updated news story here.
The per capita rate for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) would increase from the current level of $7.12 per member in 2016 to $7.33 per member in 2017 and $7.55 per member in 2018 if the current recommendation is approved.
That would be an increase of 3 percent in each of those years. And it’s built on the assumption that the PC(USA) would lose 75,000 members in both 2017 and 2018.
The recommendation will be considered at a joint meeting of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly and the executive committee of the Presbyterian Mission Agency board, meeting in Louisville the afternoon of Feb. 3.
The General Assembly sets the per capita rate – so that recommendation, if approved, will go to the General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, in June.
The report states that the projected costs for Office of the General Assembly operations for 2017 are $12,647,188 and projected funding is $11,770,982. “This would require the use of $876,203 in reserves. Without the per capita increase and the expense reductions the needed reserves would be $1.5 million dollars.”
For 2018, projected Office of the General Assembly expenses for operations are $12,738,784. Projected funding is budgeted at $11,551,195. “This will require the use of $1,187, 589 in reserves to break even,” the report states. “The reserve need without the per capita rate increase and cost savings is $1.86 million dollars.”
The report also addresses the possibility of further cutting the size of the Office of the General Assembly staff in order to save money.
It states, “we also believe that more staff reductions at this time would compromise our ability to effectively serve the church as we are mandated. Therefore we have not included any staff reduction in this proposed budget. We are requesting that the Per Capita rate increase modestly by 3% for 2017 and 2018. No single issue was debated more thoroughly. Our proposal of cost reductions, per capita rate increase, and the use of reserves, provides OGA with time to participate in the potential reorganization discussions and further discern its own delivery of services. We understand that further reductions might become necessary in the future. We strongly believe that now is not that time.”
Here is a link to the report that will be discussed.
