2026-2027 Budget

Over the past five years we averaged $250,000–$300,000 per year in unbudgeted capital expenses — needed repairs, replacements, and updates to the $29 million property God has entrusted to us. These costs were covered through savings, designated funds, special gifts, and non-giving income.

Our new approach to the annual budget anticipates these costs. We've been able to handle these costs in prior years, and now we are building a budget that accurately reflects the cost of doing ministry using the property we’ve been given.

We protect staff, missionaries, and core ministry above everything else. In years where giving falls short of budget, we work through a set of contingencies to minimize impact on ministry:

1. Delay projects and capital spending
2. Pause new initiatives that require additional funding
3. Scale back ministry plans
4. Evaluate staffing and missionary spending — though we have never had to reach this point

The purpose of an operational reserve is so that a large capital bill or a slow giving season doesn't force us to make those decisions prematurely. This is why we are looking to grow our operational reserve.

Because cutting costs elsewhere means cutting ministry. Our operational budget is not overhead — it is the staff delivering programs, the missionaries we support, and the systems that make ministry possible. We will not fund properties at the expense of ministry.

Since 2021 our ministry has grown over 20%. Our building — constructed across five separate projects — now has several phases hitting maintenance windows at the same time. Capital needs are real and recurring. A budget that reflects both ministry and facilities is the right answer.

We are asking you to prayerfully consider what God may be calling you to give toward caring for what He has entrusted to all of us. For some that may mean more. For others it may mean giving differently. And for some it may mean beginning to give regularly for the first time. We have seen a 6% increase in families giving regularly at Calvary in just the past year. The more people who share in giving, the less the burden falls on any one family.

We also encourage you to learn about giving tools that may work better for your situation — QCDs, charitable annuities, donor-advised funds, bunching giving across years, or donating appreciated stocks or assets. There may be ways to you can give that reduce your tax bill or maximize the impact of your gift.

No. The budget number is increasing approximately 20% — but this is a budgeting increase, not a spending increase. The congregation has already been funding these costs, just not through the formal budget. After adjusting for inflation and other cost increases, we believe the actual cost increase for this year’s budget is 8%.

We have shared special funding requests in the past, and the congregation has responded generously every time. But sharing only in emergencies is not a plan! We know we have upcoming capital needs, and we will want to account for them in our annual budget. We will communicate future projects with the congregation in coming years; items may shift.

Existing balances in those funds will be applied to their intended purposes. No existing donors will be asked to change their designation. Effective October 1 — when the new budget takes effect — any new gifts directed to those funds will be redirected to the General Fund since that is where we will pay for the new $300,000 capital expense line, which includes capital projects and technology updates. This policy will be in effect for three years, after which it will be reviewed. If you have questions about your current giving setup, please reach out to the church office

Anticipated expenses in the next one to two years include:

• Middle school HVAC replacement — ~$200,000
• Resealing the east parking lot — ~$30,000+
• Brick sealing the building exterior — ~$40,000
• Replacing the live streaming system — ~$60,000–$80,000
• Consolidating the building access control system — cost TBD

This is a list of assessed needs, not a wish list. We will share planned capital expenses with the congregation each year. Items may shift as unexpected needs arise, but our commitment is to communicate what we are planning and why.

Yes. The congregation votes to approve the annual budget, which includes the capital expense line. Also, we know that many congregants enjoy supporting specific needs, so we will periodically share a list of the planned capital expenses. Anyone who wishes to contribute toward specific needs may contact the Director of Administration to discuss options to fund those specific needs.

Not exactly. The $300,000 capital expense line will recur, since we expect these capital needs to recur for a long time. We expect to add $100,000 or more each year to the operating reserve until we have a more healthy emergency fund, and hopefully can discontinue those increases in a few years. Annual operating costs will account for inflation and the amount of ministry participation at Calvary, which typically is a modest increase.