Why has the Nitya-seva donation increased?

Dear Devotees,
 
Please accept my blessings, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
 
You are already a Nitya-seva sponsor and so I am writing you to explain why the Nitya-seva sponsorship has gone from 1,100,00HUF to 4,725,000HUF since 2002 when we first started the program.
 
As you know, every Nitya-seva is meant to earn enough to cover the expense of one day of worship. Back then we were enjoying up to 15% interest on long term bank deposits. Bank deposits today sadly don’t earn anything near that percentage, if at all, and they are not as secure as they were. Now the earnings of real estate in which current and future Nitya-seva’s are invested is 5%.
 
In the meantime, expenses for Radhe-Syama have naturally grown, as they do with everything else. The most notable increase was a new national insurance for devotees which increased pujari maintenance by 50%. And we have also added the maintenance of Gaura-Nitai in Budapest so that all Deities in Hungary are covered.
 
Those are the causes for the increase. You may rightly ask the question, “How do I know Nitya-seva will not go up again in a few years?”
 
Our answer is that we have included a 5% inflation rate in the new Nitya-seva amount. We expect that that will cover the foreseeable increased expenses.
 
So that’s it in a nutshell. I hope that you will understand and consider how you can meet the new Nitya-seva target. I am at your disposal to discuss the subject.
 
And what happens to your Nitya-seva day if you can’t increase your contribution?
 
We will fill the many unoccupied days on the calendar first. And when that is done, and you still cannot cover a full day’s expenses, then I shall request you to consider sharing the day with someone else who wants to sponsor the full amount. That means there will be two sponsors for the day.
 
Once again if you have any questions then please contact me, or arrange to meet me when I am nearest to where you live. Thank you so much for your continued support. Jaya Radhe-Syama!
 
Hoping this meets you in the best of health and Krishna-consciousness, I remain you ever well-wisher in the service of Srila Prabhupada.
 
Sivarama Swami