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Zero based budget preparation.
All expenditures for 2013 must be fully enumerated and explained in the budget request from each program area. A “fillable form” has been developed to assist in gathering the inputs to the process. Please complete the form as fully as possible. We would ask that you error on the side of providing too much information instead of too little as this process begins. If the fillable form does not provide sufficient room please attach additional details.
Narrative Submission.
Narrative budget submissions accompany budget preparation. The information provided by each area will accompany the budget through its consideration. Consideration of each iteration of the budget will have access to the inputs provided by each program or ministry area. Actions taken to modify the budget will also be noted in the documentation.
Alignment to Diocesan Priorities.
Expenditures should be in synch with priorities of the Diocese. Please indicate the priority or priorities the specific expenditure aligns with in your submission. The impact of the expenditure will also be important in assisting with the evaluation. If the expenditure is ongoing indication of historic impact or outcomes as well as projected numbers will be expected.
Evolutionary Process.
Those familiar with the budget process used in the past will note many similarities. There will be four budget drafts prepared and reviewed leading to adoption of the Budget at Convention:
- Diocesan Council Draft
- Deanery Draft
- Congregational/Delegate Draft
- Convention Draft
- Convention Adopted Budget
Each of these drafts will be documented and distributed with detail support at each step in the process. We expect to make all of the drafts available on the Diocesan Website to provide ease of access. |
Finance Committee is responsible for construction of the document and business input to the budget. The role should be viewed as facilitating the budget process, NOT making up or “doing” the budget. Reflection of changes in cost structures and proposed assumptions underlying certain expenditures would be expected from the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee, Treasurer, and the Finance Officer (Associate Treasurer) provide the arms and legs for the process including employing technology to facilitate communication as the budget is considered.
Convention (and Diocesan Council meeting as the Convention in recess) is responsible for setting priorities and modifying the budget as it moves through the process to Convention consideration. Delegates to convention, meeting in deaneries, will be given advance information throughout the budget process and will be able to provide their input to the multiple iterations of the budget as it is prepared. To this end it is highly recommended that delegates to 2012 convention be selected by congregations as early as possible to allow them to participate in the preparation. This would mean selection of delegates and alternates in the first quarter of 2012. |
The form is a .pdf form with “fillable” fields. Any of the popular .pdf viewers will allow you to enter information in the “fillable” fields. Once completed the form can be saved using a unique name and then emailed to the Diocesan budget process at the email address budget@ediowestmo.org.
The upper section of the form, above the grid, is the clerical information and contact information about the submitter. The grid provides the name the budget item will be identified with in the Program or Item column, the amount of the item and a Description or Explanation in the third column of the grid. The form provides guidance for completion of the third column. This is the narrative description and the opportunity to explain the alignment to priorities of the Diocese as mentioned earlier.Submit as many of the BRF.pdf forms as necessary for your budget process. Additional information may also accompany your budget submission.
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