Fall 2024 Parish Business Forum Communication

It is fall and typically the time for our semi-annual Parish Business Forum meeting. Considering the items for a business forum meeting and the time commitment to attend a meeting I thought it best to communicate the most important items in a single communication. Therefore, we will not be having neither a virtual, or actual, Fall Parish Business Forum meeting, and I ask that you read the information below.

ACCOUNTING
Paying Priest Mileage For Substituting at Another Parish
Parish Business Managers whose priests perform substitute priest Masses at other parishes should be diligent when reimbursing their priests mileage each month. If any of their submitted mileage involved travelling to substitute at another parish, the business manager should not reimburse their priests for that mileage as their priest should be reimbursed directly from the parish at which they substituted. 
 
RISK MANAGEMENT / INSURANCE
Parish Resolutions – Contract Review
Bishop requested that the diocese assist parishes to fulfill the contract review requirement in Synod Appendix #37. As new resolutions are submitted, contracts should be included for review by Tony Chap. He will assist parishes with adverse language changes or needs for addendum to contracts. 
 
Catholic Mutual CARES Resource List
Parishes have access to an extensive amount of information and training resources in the  Catholic Mutual Connect CMG/Connect Online Training Hub. This is a valuable resource to parishes providing guidance and information on a vast array of topics.

Here is a current list of CMG CARES documents and a list of Online Training Curriculum topics to assist in the roles you and other employees serve your parish. Parishes have received instructions on how to access the CMG/Connect Online Training Hub but if you have difficulty, please contact Tony Chap.

RESOURCES
Standards of Practice
Prior to restructuring parish corporations had bylaws however the amended corporate articles state that the parish corporation will have no bylaws. It was determined that the PJP (non-profit associations) will not have a constitution as their governing document but rather have Standards of Practice. The Standards of Practice documents for the parish finance and pastoral councils are on the diocese website as a resource for parishes and are under "Documents" on the left hand side of the Parish Services webpage. Visually they are next to the photo of Tony Chap toward the bottom of the page. The link to the Parish Services webpage is  https://bismarckdiocese.com/parishservices

Synod Revisions
Synod manual revisions are being mailed out. Note that there is a new appendix 39 Genealogical Research in Sacramental Registers. Please take the time to read this appendix as it clarifies the dissemination of information that is contained in Sacramental Registers.

PAYROLL
New Transfer Employees 
Employees who are new to your parish but were, or continue, to work at another parish or school entity in our diocese, may already participate in the 401k retirement plan. Please communicate to your payroll processing representative that the new employee at your parish is/was working at another entity in the diocese. This is important so we understand if they were in our 401k retirement program and if their deductions and benefits should be considered as a new employee or differently.

Parish Portal Files Housekeeping
With each payroll, your diocese payroll representative puts payroll files into your parish portal such as pay stubs, government remittance, 941 files, etc. The parish should download and retain these files in their system and delete the files on the portal after downloading. 

Parish Payroll – Timely Submittal
We continue to emphasize the need to submit your payroll on time as it creates unnecessary workload issues. We usually can accommodate parishes who communicate in advance of requesting to submit a day, or two days later, however we have parishes who are often tardy with submitting their payroll. Our agreement terms state “You are responsible for providing the diocese with your salary and wage data and information five business days prior to the payroll process date. (schedule provided.) If you fail to adhere to the timing schedule provided, you will be responsible for any penalties….”  

Department of Labor Overtime Rules
The DOL overtime thresholds continue to change. Parish Business Managers need to be aware if they have employees who may need to be paid overtime, even if they are considered salaried workers. The link below provides information on the classifications of employees and the compensation thresholds for 2024, 2025, and 2027 and beyond and when submitting payroll, communicate any overtime compensation to your diocese payroll representative. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime/rulemaking