Source: The National Herald
BOSTON – The 2018 budget of the Archdiocese has been dramatically reduced by $8 million. Specifically, it was reduced to $22 million from $30,240,112 for the year 2018 and $27,816,483 for the year 2017. The budget has more than double in the 19 years since Archbishop Demetrios took office with an increase from $13 to $30,240,112.
The new budget was approved by the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council and it will be presented to the 44th Clergy Laity Congress of the Archdiocese which will be convened in Boston from July 1-5.
This is the first time the Archdiocese has constructed a “real world” budget, from the ground up, that reflects the true and accurate revenue and expenditure profile of the Archdiocese.
The 2018 “balanced budget” projects a surplus of $1.9 million that will be used to repay the Archdiocese legacy obligations. There is also a budgeted $1.3 million “contingency” for unbudgeted and/or unexpected expenses.
If this “contingency” is not used, then the $1.3 million will be additional funds available to repay the Archdiocese legacy obligations.
Please reflect on where the Archdiocese was in August 2017, prior to the $8 million of effected/completed cost reductions and the implementation of protocols and governors on overall spending, and what it has achieved now from a financial stand-point.
It is also significant the fact that the Archdiocese “froze” revenues/assessments to Parishes at 2017 levels, therefore this surplus was not achieved by increasing the burden on Parishes.
Prominent businessman Michael Psaros who is leading the efforts for the purge and reconstruction of the finances of the Archdiocese played a pivotal role in drafting the new budget along with the efforts of Lazaros Kircos Chair of the Finance Committee, Elaine Allen Chair of the Audit Committee, Fr. Soterios- Chief Financial Officer, and Bishop Andonios of Phasiane- Chancellor of the Archdiocese.
This is the first time that the Archdiocese released the budget so early before the Clergy Laity Congress. Usually it was released a few days prior to the Clergy Laity Congress when the parishes and the delegates of the Clergy Laity Congress had very little chance to study it but were called shortly before the end of the Congress to vote on it by acclamation.
Read the 2018 Adopted Budget (click on the image to read it in PDF format):
Editor’s Note (Archival Content)
This article is part of the Orthodox Christian Laity archives and reflects the context, concerns, and discussions present at the time of its original publication. It is made available here for historical reference and ongoing study. Readers should note that perspectives, circumstances, and ecclesial developments may have evolved since its initial release.