Treasurer’s Report - Winter 2025
Treasurer Karl Lauger
We have a lot to be thankful for in our country. Even with many difficult things happening right now, there is also much that is good. And we have a lot to be thankful for at our church, too.
In Breaking Bread we have a thriving ministry that touches many hundreds of people every month. In NNUP we have an actively engaged community group that works toward addressing on-going issues right here in our neighborhood. We have the resources to donate 750 turkeys to families who could use a little boost during the holidays. We have a packed Advent schedule with numerous community-building events. We have access to a nice parking lot at Water Payton High School!
As treasurer of LaSalle Street Church I'm grateful for a generous congregation. It is your generosity that makes all those things possible. Not to mention that on top of the regular giving, we all gave $105k this year toward our Foundations & Flooring campaign which resulted in a refreshed worship space that will better meet the needs of the next generation of worshippers here.
As you can see in the chart below, our budgeted giving and spending year-to-date looks good. So far this year giving is only slightly (3%) below budget. Spending is $48k below budget. Kudos to our staff for managing expenses so well this year. You should also note that LSC has cash reserves (restricted and unrestricted) of $488k. This represents more than seven months of spending. Our goal is three to six months.
You might also want to know we recently wrapped up an independent accounting review of our 2024 financial statements. The two independent reviews covered the church (LSC) and The LaSalle Foundation (TLF), which includes Cornerstone Center. Both reviews indicated our 2024 financial statements are "in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles," which means keep doing what you're doing. No issues here. We pay for these reviews once a year to insure we are properly accounting for our (your) money.
Looking forward to holiday events with this fine community over the next few weeks. I hope you're able to find a measure of meaning and happiness this Thanksgiving.