2015-16 Parish Budget Memo

Diocese of El Paso
Finance Office
499 St. Matthews St.
El Paso, TX 79907
915-872-8404
Fax: 915-872-8415
Memo
To:
Pastors and Bookkeepers
From: Leticia Q. Macias
Date: April 28, 2015
Re:
Fiscal Year 2015-16 Parish Budget
It is now time to begin working on the budget for the fiscal year 2015-16. The complete budget
packet is also available on the Diocese of El Paso website in PDF and can be accessed at
http://www.elpasodiocese.org/financeparishresources. If you prefer to work on your budget
using Microsoft Excel please send me a request to [email protected] and I will email
you the file or come by the office to pick up a CD. Our office can also provide you with an
Excel file with the latest financial information for your parish to assist you with the budgeting
process. You may contact me to request that information.
The Manual of Policies and Procedures of the Parish Finances of the Roman Catholic Diocese
of El Paso (II, A, 7) states that every parish should have a completed budget submitted to the
finance office by July 31, 2015. In addition the manual states that the parish finance council
must be involved in the budgeting process (VIII, C, A). Though our office should receive a
copy of the completed and approved budget, please be aware that with the implementation of
the new accounting software from ParishSoft ConnectNow Accounting you will now be
responsible for entering your parish budget into the system.
Below is information may be helpful in the preparation of your budget.
Cost of Living Adjustment -- A cost of living adjustment of 1.7% for salaries will be
presented for approval by the Diocese of El Paso Finance Council at the May 2015 meeting
to be effective July 1, 2015.
Clergy Salaries – The cost of living adjustment of 1.7% will also be applied to the
salary portion of clergy compensation. The clergy salary for the 2015-16 fiscal year
will be $917.66 per month ($11,011.92 annually). There will be no change to the
social security allowance ($200 per month for those priests that participate in the
social security system) or to the car allowance ($350 per month within El Paso County
and $500 per month for West Texas (outside the El Paso County)).
Health Insurance Premiums – The monthly premiums for health insurance have been
approved for the 2015-16 fiscal year. For budgeting purposes you may use the proposed
premium for clergy and religious of $829.00 per month and $730.00 per month for the
employer share of the premium for lay employees. The employee’s share of the premium
will be $38.00 for the Basic Laity plan and $99.00 for Laity plan.
Property Insurance – An increase of about 2% is expected.
Keep in mind that our office is available to provide additional information or assistance on this
or any other fiscal matters. Please do not hesitate to call on us at (915)872-8404.
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