| CFA proposes budget increase By John Coleman JR. UMConnection Staff The Baltimore-Washington Conference Council on Finance and Administration presented an interim or draft budget at two pre-annual conference briefings April 26, proposing a tentative 2004 apportionment total of nearly $16.5 million. That figure represents an increase of more than $900,000, or 5.88 percent, over the 2003 apportionment goal. The interim budget proposes increases of about 3 percent for World Service and other general church benevolences and for conference benevolences, which funds various conference ministries and communications. Connectional clergy support would increase 5.4 percent, partly due to escalating costs of medical insurance for current retirees, clergy moving allowances and Cabinet expenses. Compliance with medical privacy rules in the new federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) will also require budget increases in health benefits administration. CFA is recommending some proactive measures: support for conference-wide, district-based capital campaigns through the proposed new Stewardship Center and Foundation; and a new reserve fund for legal expenses, prompted by expected legal costs related to the mold contamination of the conference center. We believe the proposed budget is aggressive but manageable, said the Rev. Byron Brought, CFA chairman. Several costs are beyond our control, like HIPAA compliance. But the new Stewardship Center and Foundation and the district-based capital campaigns were proposing will provide a positive, proactive solution to the stewardship needs of the conference.The conference Finance and Administration Department must finish tabulating 2002 church statistical reports to determine final recommended apportionment amounts and prepare the budget proposal for annual conference. Tabulations have been delayed because of disruptions in operations caused by mold contamination in the permanent and temporary conference center buildings, according to the Rev. James Knowles-Tuell, conference treasurer and chief financial officer. Because of the delay, CFA presented a draft budget proposal to more than 300 pre-conference briefing attendees at two regional sites, in Hagerstown and Silver Spring. A final budget proposal will be ready for review at the next CFA meeting, May 21, following the May 17 regional pre-conference briefings in Perry Hall and Annapolis. The final figures may be a bit different than what is in the draft budget, but not by much, Knowles-Tuell told conference members at the two briefings. | 
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