Welcome back everyone, I hope you are all looking forward to the start of the program year. This will be a busy year–there are many activities and events already being planned as well as congregation-wide meetings to discuss transition topics and hear updates from our elected Lead Minister Search Committee. Be ready to share your ideas on the future of First Parish as we explore what we’re looking for in a new Settled Minister.
I have two important financial updates to share: results of the prior fiscal year (ended June 30, 2026) and updates to the current year budget reflecting necessary changes from the budget presented at the May annual meeting (FY 2026-2027), approved by the Parish Committee at their August meeting.
FY 2025-2026 Results: First Parish ended June 2026 in a better position than expected. At annual meeting, the forecast for the full year indicated that while many areas were within budget, we expected to use approximately $40,000 of our surplus reserve to complete the year (which was less than the original budget of $68,000). As we closed the year, we only needed to use $18,000 from our surplus reserve. This is because expenses remained below the budget and pledge payments exceeded our expectations. THANK YOU to all who were able to honor their full year pledges. We are so very grateful. This allows First Parish to hold more in surplus reserve as we begin this year.
FY 2026-2027 Budget: Parish Committee met in August to review the upcoming budget and incorporate final Stewardship pledge information. As reported at the annual meeting, the stewardship pledge total for this year was running below goal. As we begin this year, we are grateful to have $788,000 in annual pledges, falling slightly below the planned amount of $800,000. Additionally, careful review of Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) search costs surfaced additional expenses to anticipate (approx. $3,000). Some of this is offset by a recalculation lowering the annual program fund due to the UUA. First Parish is proud to pay its full share of the program funds and has remained an honor congregation for decades. The UUA agreed to review our calculation as they identified additional deductions that First Parish had not been aware of, providing a slight offset to the increased expenses previously noted.
The updated First Parish budget now reflects budgeted use of surplus reserves of about $90,000, up slightly from the $77,000 presented at the May annual meeting.
Financial reports are available for your review. I will be sharing both FY 2025-2026 results and the updated FY 2026-2027 budget at the upcoming Leadership Forum for committee representatives and other volunteer leaders (Sept 13th). If you’d like to review the financial reports, please contact me by email: Treasurer@firstparish.info I’d be happy to review the information and answer any questions.
In gratitude,
Carolyn Hodges, Treasurer FPUU Arlington
