Addressing the issue of wards under-spending their budget allocations

15 March 2017

Using the Lord’s funds wisely

Dear Bishop….

Thank you for giving careful attention to the Lord’s funds, in particular the budget allocation that we receive from Church headquarters.

·   Our records show that you will receive an estimated $3,800 in budget allocation for 2017.

·   Your ward ended 2016 with a surplus of $5,715—a 150% carry over.

You may not be aware that we set a stake policy in 2014 that a ward would not be allowed to carry over more than 50% of their expected annual allocation for the next year.

However, we have decided not to enforce that policy this year. But we plan to do so next year.

A sizable carry over of surplus funds beyond 50% suggests you may not be exploring the many ways these funds can be spent, such as the reimbursement of expenses incurred by leaders and members personally.  Will you please visit with your ward leadership and consider ways to use your ward funds this year?

Here are a few suggestions on how to use your surplus funds:

·   Hold more ward activities. We recommend at least one ward activity per quarter and that every organization holds at least one activity for their members per quarter. Activities provide opportunities for members to invite friends and less-actives. To this end, consider allocating more funds to each organization to host more activities.

·   Help lighten the financial burden on families by further subsidizing summer camps for the youth in your ward—beyond the $150 for Scout camp and $75 for all other camps.

·   Purchase outdoor and camping equipment for your Young Women and Scouts.

·   Teach and encourage leaders to submit receipts for travel costs and other expenses incurred for church activities that often do not get reimbursed.

·   Purchase technology equipment that will help ward leaders to operate more effectively or to enhance the effectiveness of classroom instruction.

Please know how much we appreciate your service and your oversight of these sacred funds. We are concerned when ward leaders over-spend and we are also concerned when ward leaders significantly under-spend the funds allocated by the Church to bless the membership.

Gratefully,

The Stake Presidency