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Delegates to Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference slash budget for 2013-16
7/26/2012
The Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) of The United Methodist Church overwhelmingly approved a slashing of its budget for the next quadrennium at the 2012 SEJ Conference that took place July 18-20 in Western North Carolina.
Jim Allen, chairman of the SEJ Committee on Finance and Administration (and Tennessee Conference Treasurer), presented a budget for 2013-16 that was half the size of the budget passed four years ago.
With few questions and little debate, the SEJ approved a budget of $4.4 million for the next four years. It represents a 50 percent cut from the $8.8 million budget approved for 2009-12.
“We have eliminated operational funds going to agencies,” Allen said. “And we will continue to cut back on expenses as we move forward.”
Allen’s presentation, and announcement of deep cuts to the jurisdiction’s budget, was met with applause across the meeting room.
Even though the SEJ had approved an $8.8 million budget in 2008, Allen said, the jurisdiction had already been trimming its expenses and was projecting to only spend $7.1 million in the 2009-2012 quadrennium.
CF&A is working toward trimming an additional 50 percent from the budget for 2017-20, Allen said, with the goal of significantly cutting apportionments paid by every conference. By far the most significant savings come from paying off debt of Lake Junaluska. The jurisdiction projects spending $5.7 million on the debt for 2009-2012 but is budgeting $2 million for 2013-2016.
During its July 18 evening session, the SEJ also approved apportionments for 2013-16 that cut payments in half (from 2009-12) for every conference.
Apportionments approved by SEJ for each conference for 2013-2016
Alabama-West Florida
$233,519
Florida
$517,453
Holston
$262,970
Kentucky
$216,984
Memphis
$157,530
Mississippi
$259,771
North Alabama
$261,992
North Carolina
$306,777
North Georgia
$514,609
Red Bird
$621
South Carolina
$340,373
South Georgia
$230,413
Tennessee
$168,431
Virginia
$500,964
Western N. Carolina
$462,747