Zion’s administrative council, struggling with unexpectedly high bills and low first-quarter giving, voted Tuesday to cut more than $20,000 in spending in the final three quarters of the year.

 The new budget eliminates the youth-pastor position, effective July 1, and cuts pay for a church musical director. In addition, the pastor will not be reimbursed nearly $2,000 for mileage and expenses in the rest of the year.

 Budgets for office supplies, advertising, worship supplies, and the kitchen ministry were trimmed substantially, and all mission-related and youth-related ministries were removed from the general fund budget. A special missions committee and a yet-to-be-named youth committee will continue to attempt to raise funds for their respective ministries, but none of their work will be underwritten out of the church budget.

 The new plan drops planned spending in April through December from $82,175 to $63,763.

 In addition, the council voted to move funds from the parsonage rental account into the general fund to pay Chuck and Jean Smith to continue to work as janitors at the church.

 Zion ran a $12,000 deficit during the first quarter of the year, largely because of unusually high propane bills and extremely low giving through January.

 Youth Director Jim Nevel has been notified that the Maumee Watershed District is contemplating the possibility of appointing him pastor at an as-yet undesignated parish, and the council decided it could not afford to fill the soon-to-be-vacant position when he departs.

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