Budget

Directors of Ministry Initiatives are required to submit annual budgets for their departments. Budgets should be turned in to the Treasurer by September 30 of each year.

The treasurer and senior pastor will combine all budgets and assess overall organizational financial needs. Proposed amendments will be sent to the directors before a final budget is presented to the governing board.

Budgets need to be approved by the Governing Board and sometimes other committees in order to be acted upon.

Final Budgets are created in the month of October. Final budgets are due by October 31st. The Governing board will review these budgets in a special board meeting in November.

Administrative staff will meet with Directors to assess and understand the overall budget.

The November Governing Board meeting will vote on the submitted budgets. If the budgets are not approved in November, the board will give a list of requirements to the directors and reconvene the next month. This will continue until the board has approved a budget.

All expenses are to be categorized by department account lines within Aplos per the board approved budget.  Adjustments to the department account lines can be made at the discretion of the Senior Pastor and Treasurer, provided the amendments do not affect the budget totals. 

The Treasurer will provide a monthly report of Department Spending to each Director.

Directors will sign Quarterly Budgets to be accepted by the Governing Board.

Directors will sign Final Annual Income and Expense Reports in March to be accepted by the Governing Board.

Directors will sign final approved budgets after the Governing Board has approved them.

Excess Spending:

It is within the purview of the Senior Pastor and Treasurer each to make any purchases in excess of budgeted amounts up to $500.00 each. (Ie. The Treasurer can pre-approve $500 and the Senior Pastor can pre-approve an additional $500.) These amounts will be promptly entered into Aplos. No reporting to the Governing Board is necessary for these edits. These approvals must take place before the monies are spent. This is the entire discretion of the treasurer or senior pastor to request any budgetary amendment be presented to the governing board.

Any purchases in excess of budgeted funds of $1000.00 require board approval.

Directors can request budget changes at any time but all budget changes in excess of $1000 will require a board vote.

When a budget is changed, the treasurer will amend the budget in Aplos so that reporting is correct.

If a director spends in excess of budget funds, they must immediately report this to the Treasurer.

Recommended Reading:

Anthony, Michael J., and James Riley Estep. Management Essentials for Christian Ministries. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005. 115-132.