As you finish up your church school year and all the program and activities, I hope you can take a minute to breathe and also take some time off. At the same time, I know that some of you are concerned about your summer cash flow. While this hits our desert churches most directly, no church is immune to a dip in summer giving. I recommend that you look into online giving as a means to maintain donations. In addition, Church Finance Update Newsletter offers these suggestions:

Update your church database with accurate data.
Diversify your communication with video messages.
Mail ministry updates to regular givers with a postage-paid courtesy reply offering envelope.
Communicate ministry results through the lens of life change
Construct spending habits to match giving patterns

As you read this, I am in the Holy Land! I will return to the office on Monday, June 22. In the meantime Rosa Feeney and Diana Rubi will be happy to assist you and answer your questions.

Shalom,

Canon Julie Young

Canon for Finance and Administration and Diocesan Treasurer

jyoung@edsd.org

Office of the Bishop Address

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92107

Budgeting
I know that some of you are getting a head start on your budget process. I applaud you for this and want to alert you to changes that will affect your budgeting. The California minimum wage for hourly (non-exempt) employees increases to $10 per hour on January 1. The minimum salary for salaried (exempt) lay employees will increase to $41,600 whether the employee is part time or not. Pension requirements for school employees who work more than 1000 hours per year will increase to 3% base with up to a 2% match. Health insurance cost increases are not yet available; I suggest you use 7% increase as a place holder.

Diocesan Convention

As most of you know, Diocesan Convention has been moved to November and the next one will be Saturday, November 7 of this year! Please be sure to get your lay delegate certificates to Bobbi Hoff. With convention in November, our budget timeline has changed. Congregational requests for 2016 grants will be due September 1; those congregations that are eligible for grants will be emailed the link to the online application by July 1. Program and ministry grants are also due September 1; link to the online application will be provided in July newsletter. Congregations that are not up-to-date on their mission share pledge payments or have reduced their pledge to less than 10% will be required to submit a waiver request in order to have voice and vote at convention. Waiver requests are due October 15.

California Sick Time

The California paid sick time requirements are changing July 1. Most essential is the requirement that all employees who work more than 30 days in a year are required to have at least three paid sick days. Also, all employees must receive an accounting of their sick time balance with their pay check. A sick time poster must be posted and employees should be given a Wage and Employment Notice (Labor Code section 2810.5). A checklist of requirements is available on the diocesan website.

All workplaces are required to post additional California and Federal employment law postings. Since laws change frequently, it is necessary to change postings each year. The California Chamber of Commerce publishes an all-in-one poster that is a convenient way to assure compliance with the law. These are available here: http://www.calchamber.com/store/products/Pages/California-Employment-Poster.aspx. The diocese is a member of the California Chamber of Commerce so preferred rates are available if you order in our name. Plus, we have an extra poster that we will give you for free if you are the first one to call Canon Young and request it: 619-481-5453.

Wellness Tip of the Month

Find the best fitness friend: a workout buddy is hugely helpful for keeping motivated, but it's important to find someone who will inspire-not discourage. So make a list of all your exercise-loving friends, then see who fits this criteria: can your pal meet to exercise on a regular basis? Is s/he supportive (not disparaging) of your goals? And last, will your bud be able to keep up with you or even push your limits in key workouts? If you've got someone that fits all three, make that phone call.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and its employees do not provide, and none of the information furnished in this email should be viewed as investment, tax, or legal advice. The content of this email is provided for your information purposes only.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego | 619-481-5453 | jyoung@edsd.org | www.edsd.org

~ Serving and Assisting Financial and Administrative Leaders ~