Process and Timeline
School districts must have an approved annual budget that is balanced between projected revenue and expenses. This dynamic process must ensure that all legal and contractual requirements are met as well as reflect the local community’s values and priorities, as represented by the elected school board.
Learn more about the budget process and find additional resources here
Process Overview
- Values and priorities set by board
- Enrollment and revenue projected
- Expenses projected
- Balanced budget recommendation developed
- Department and school allocations proposed
- Presentation of comprehensive budget
- School board review
- School board approval
- Share updates with stakeholders via website and newsletters
- Gather community input and feedback (school site councils, surveys, and other methods)
- Updates to the finance committee and school board
- Direction from the finance committee and school board
Detailed Steps
- The budget team determines revenue estimates so we know how much money is available and projects salary and non-salary expenses so we know how much we would spend if there were no changes.
- If the sum of projected schools and department allocations is greater than the available revenue, reductions and/or additional revenue sources must be identified.
- Proposed school and department allocations within available revenue are developed using board budget values and priorities and where possible, community input or feedback”.
- Allocations are provided to principals (schools) and budget managers (departments) to build a proposed budget that follows given budget parameters and board values and priorities. Principals work with their school communities, including site councils, to incorporate feedback.
- Department leaders and school principals submit their proposed budget and enter the information into the budget tie out system. Any further needed reductions to department allocations are identified.
- Following review and any school board-directed changes throughout the process, the school board must approve the budget prior to June 15, as a balanced budget is required by state law.
Timeline
| Date(s) | Activity |
|---|---|
| December-January | School board sets budget values and priorities |
| February 9 | First enrollment lottery window closes; enrollment projections are finalized |
| February 17 | Principals and department leaders receive budget allocations and guidance/parameters |
| February 17-March 6 | “Budget Tie-Out” (BTO), a process by which budget managers develop and submit proposed budgets for review |
| March 6-April 3 | Review by Finance, Human Resources, and other relevant departments |
| January-April | School board receives regular budget updates and reports (available to view here) |
| May 12 | Presentation and first reading by the school board of the final proposed budget |
| June 9 | School board vote on the final budget |
