a) Role of Metropolis Finance Committee and Compliance Process

The primary role of the Metropolis Finance Committee in the Total Commitment (TC) Allocation system is to ensure that the process is administered fairly for all parishes. The review includes checks that all parishes include the expenses that should be included, and all parishes receive the deductions that should be received. The Finance Committee will review the Data Forms to correct errors in both directions. The Finance Committee is not concerned with trying to maximize income to the Archdiocese. The Finance Committee is concerned with ensuring that the allocation is done with transparency and done equitably and consistently for Metropolises and parishes across the country.

If a parish intentionally submits inaccurate information, it is being unfair to its sister parishes in its Metropolis and throughout the Archdiocese as the other parishes will be assuming an increased allocation to make up for the reduced allocation to this parish. In an effort to ensure that neither intentionally nor unintentionally inaccurate data is being submitted the Metropolis may select 5 parishes at random each year for financial review by the Metropolis finance committee. Any parish providing inaccurate information may also be subject to a financial review. Unfortunately, some parishes will not complete their allocation by the end of the year and will not commit to a plan to complete the allocation in a timely fashion during the new year while also paying toward the new allocation. Thus, a process is needed to deal with such parishes. The following process is being used by more than one Metropolis with great success:

Any Parish refusing/failing to meet its Archdiocese allocation is subject to the following actions:

1. Most recent Parish Council election will not be ratified
2. If appropriate action not taken, Metropolis Finance Committee shall meet with the Parish Council of the parish in question.
3. If appropriate action not taken, a complete audit of the parish’s accounts and funds is conducted by a CPA at the parish’s expense.
4. If appropriate action not taken, Metropolis Finance Committee meets with the Parish’s General Assembly. If appropriate action not taken, Metropolis will apply the appropriate sanction to the parish.