ENTERPRISE — The executive committee of the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home has decided to cut back on its expenses to help alleviate a budget shortfall.

In a letter dated Oct. 14, the Rev. Alex Carmichel IV, president of the home, said the committee had decided to lay off employees, shorten work schedules and close one of its cottages. The committee will meet again in January 2000 to decide if it will be necessary to close two additional cottages.

Staff have worked hard to lessen the effects of recent decisions, said the Rev. David McEntire, pastor of United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches and chairperson of the Children’s Home board of trustees. Carmichel helped the house parents who lost their jobs due to the cottage closing find employment at another children’s facility. Several employees planning to retire were allowed to do so, then their positions were eliminated. And children from the closed cottage were relocated to other cottages.

"It’s an interim step," McEntire said. "It’s not what we’d prefer, but it’s better than sending them home."

"Our decision is to bite the bullet," Carmichel said. "We will balance the budget without estates and use a line of credit if that action becomes a necessity."

The financial crisis is a result of a three-year decline in the number of estate gifts given to the home, resulting in a $500,000 budget shortfall for 1999, according to McEntire.

While it’s not yet certain how much was received through the home’s October Fifth Sunday Offering, Carmichel said he is optimistic that offering, the Christmas offering and continued cost reduction will help "bring our situation to a satisfactory solution."

Carmichel is asking churches to place a special emphasis on the Christmas offering by writing letters to members and friends and providing a means of making "in honor" or "in memory of" gifts.