Spending Guidelines

For the purposes of good stewardship, transparency and accountability, the Diocese has established thresholds where parishes, schools, offices and agencies must submit detailed documentation about spending plans and apply for permission before the spending can take place.

Expenditures that are less than $29,000 do not need diocesan approval; however, local guidelines for seeking price quotes must be followed.

The norm is that any project or item over $5,000 must have comparative price quotes and discussed by the local finance council or like advisory body.

Related Spending: while less than $29,000 does not need diocesan approval, expenditures that are related to any other spending for similar or connected projects spanning 24 months or less, where the combined costs will be $29,000, must follow the approval process.

Up to $29,000* - approved at Local Level (Parish, School, Institution or Diocesan Agency) * Or 5% of the prior year’s ordinary annual income, whichever is lower.

• ** Any entity that is unable to meet its financial responsibilities to the diocese (i.e., diocesan bills over 30 days or CLA debt) is not to spend any money outside of its normal operating budget without the approval of the diocese.
• **(Bishop’s directive: “Financial Controls,” Effective 12/1/2010)
• Please note, permission for amounts over $29,000 require appropriate permission forms and current financial reports.
• Financial reports should include both a balance sheet and profit and loss statements.
• The profit and loss should include both current-quarter and year-to-date results.
• Reports should be printed from the parish financial accounting package, such as QuickBooks, and include all parish bank accounts and investment accounts.
• Reports submitted in Excel, or that do not include all parish accounts, will be returned as incomplete.

​Spending Scale:

$29,000 to 100,000

• Recommendation of the related Diocesan Offices
• Approval by the Bishop

• Recommendation of the related Diocesan Offices
• Approval by the College of Consultors
• Approval by the Bishop

• Recommendation of the related Diocesan Offices
• Approval by the College of Consultors
• Approval of Diocesan Finance Council
• Approval by the Bishop

• Recommendation of the related Diocesan Offices
• Approval by the College of Consultors
• Approval of Diocesan Finance Council
• Approval by the Bishop
• Approval of Holy See

(Revised May 2009)