Local Boy Scout executive retires amid financial challenges
The Northwest Suburban Council of the Boy Scouts of America's highest-paid employee has retired ahead of schedule amid dwindling financial reserves, officials said.
The council acknowledged this week that it is facing “significant” financial problems, and has been issued a “conditional charter” as a warning from the National Council to get their finances in line.
“The council has been running real tight and we just couldn't seem to get over the hump,” said Vice President of Asset Management Rudy Smolka. “Maybe it's time for change to help us get over that hump.”
In an email sent Wednesday to the NWSC Council's executive committee, executive board and advisory board members, council President Marie Diffley wrote that Stephen Taylor was retiring this week after seven years as the council's top executive. The email also explained that the council “faces significant but not insurmountable financial challenges.”
Smolka said the council has started an austerity program because funding through organizations such as the United Way of America has ceased, and the council has been dipping into its reserves to pay the bills.
“We have a very sound program in our council, it's just that our finances — we are drawing down our reserves. We need to stop,” Smolka said.
Taylor, who served the Scouts for 30 years, was nearing retirement, but chose to take it now as the council looks for a new financial path. According to the council's IRS 990 form, Taylor made $140,815 in 2010.
Council officials said there are no missing funds and there was no suspicion of malfeasance.
The council's interim scout executive, Richard Fisher, said there is enough revenue to continue operating. Smolka agreed, but said that nontraditional programs, such as a program for minority students to get involved in the Scouts might not be able to continue.
“The traditional programs of scouting will remain intact,” Fisher said. “The programming that happens at the local level is not changing at all.” He said the council will be looking into how it operates and if there are things in the budget they can cut that “are not essential.”
The two-year conditional charter granted to the NWSC will allow the national council to directly work with and assist the local council's executive board, according to a national spokesman.
“The National Council puts you on a warning list, it says ‘OK, you guys, the ice has got a little thinner, you need to do something to build that ice back up,'” Smolka said.
He added that about a third of the councils in the country had the same warning.