Support for the General Budget enables Saint Paul to operate. Tithes and financial gifts to the General Operating Budget support our Saint Paul ministry areas and events, staff compensation, operating and maintenance needs of the church, and enable us to continue to Worship, Grow, and Serve others in the name of Christ.

What goes into making the annual budget?

The first step in identifying the annual budget needs begins with both a historical review and a visioning for the future. The leaders consider the past, the present, and the future in each ministry area. Looking at the history of what has been offered, considering current costs associated with the ministry, and envisioning how the ministry can grow, all help to identify the financial needs of the coming year.

The Saint Paul Finance Committee meets to review budget amounts and submits a recommended budget to the Administrative Council for consideration each year.

What is included in the annual budget?

• Benevolences (Apportionments) are about 8% of the total annual budget. These United Methodist Conference level support payments cover missions and growth in our local communities and beyond our church walls, as determined by the North Carolina Annual Conference. These monies are a part of our United Methodist connectional ministry and outreach. Click Here for More Information on NC Annual Conference Apportionments.

• Salaries are normally around 50% of the total annual budget for most churches. This expense covers compensation and benefits for our Clergy and Support Staff, including travel reimbursement and continuing education costs.

• Utilities expenses are 14% of the total annual budget and cover the power, heating/AC, water, garbage collection, and telephone and internet services across our church campus. This also includes our janitorial supplies, from sanitizers to polish to bathroom paper, as well as our annual property insurance payment.

• Office/Kitchen expenses are about 3% of the total annual budget and cover operating expenses related to our church office, such as copier leases, paper, and postage for mailings; our kitchen supplies in Winslow Hall, including coffee cups and supplies and kids juices and snacks; our IT hardware and software and other costs of office computer equipment; our banking fees for online giving options; and fees for other church-related licenses, such as our worship music copyright licenses.

• Ministry Area expenses are about 15% of the total annual budget and cover our costs in our Worship, Grow, and Serve ministry programs.

• Trustees expenses are 7% of the total annual budget and cover the maintenance and facilities upkeep for our church campus and two parsonages.

• Other expenses are 2% of the total annual budget and account for our Emergency Reserve funds which we have tried to designate as savings at the end of each year over the past four years for future building or other church needs.