Joint parish councils, accounts, 2015

The gross operating expenditures amounted for NOK 4.3 billion in 2015, compared to NOK 4.1 billion in 2014. This corresponded to an increase of NOK 151 million from the previous year.

The gross operating result exclusive depreciation amounted to about NOK 190 million in 2015, against NOK 130 million from the previous year. This corresponded to an increase of NOK 60 million.

The net operating result was registered at NOK 152 million in 2015, and amounted to an increase of NOK 57 million from the previous year. The net operating result constituted 3 per cent of the total operating income, against 2 per cent in 2014. Municipal and central government grants increased by NOK 140 million

In 2015, the municipalities and the central government transferred close to NOK 3.2 billion to their joint parish councils. These grants covered a total of 74 per cent of the total gross expenses.

In 2015, the municipalities transferred about NOK 2.8 billion to their parishes against NOK 2.6 billion in 2014. In 2012-2015, the total grants from the municipalities’ increased by NOK 289 million.

Transfers from the central government amounted to NOK 406 million in 2015, against NOK 353 million compared to the previous year.,

Other donations and contributions were reduced from NOK 83 million in 2014 to NOK 80 million in 2015.

Revenues from other transfers, refunds and VAT refunds, constituted NOK 579 million in 2014 to NOK 635 million in 2015.

NOK 2.6 billion to the church expenses

Total gross expenses for the joint parish council amounted to just above NOK 2.6 billion in 2015. The majority of these expenses went to cover payroll expenses.

Gross expenses to cemeteries accounted for NOK 711 million in 2015, a 4.4 per cent increase from 2014.

Gross expenses to other activities in the church sector such as day centre for elders, amounted to NOK 800 million in 2015.

Reduction in investments

In 2015, investment costs were reduced from about NOK 1 billion in 2014 to about NOK 930 million in 2015.This constituted a reduction of 9.2 per cent. It is first and foremost the investments in the church buildings that explain the reduction of the total Investment costs. Investment in churches amounted to NOK 516 million; a reduction of about NOK 384 million kroner.

The investments in cemeteries increased by NOK 53 million, from NOK 331 million in 2014, to NOK 384 million in 2015. Since 2012, these investments have gradually increased by about NOK 206 million, or 64 percent.

The joint parish councils received a total of NOK 504 million in investment grants in 2015. Most of these were grants from their municipalities. Income from sale of equipment and property increased by NOK 158 million from 2014.

More equity for the Joint parish councils

In 2015, the joint parish council managed equity of more than NOK 13.4 billion. This was an increase of close to NOK 1 billion or 7.6 per cent more compared to the previous year.

Long-term liabilities amounted to more than NOK 1.2 billion compared to around NOK 1.3 billion in 2014. This was a reduction of about NOK 53 million; subsequently, Current liabilities decreased by NOK 12 million from in 2015.