BUDGETING E02
The budget is a policy
document that reflects the goals of the school district. It is the policy of
the Montpelier School District to develop school budget(s) that reflect the district’s
goals in improving student achievement and to ensure responsiveness to
community needs.
1. The superintendent will develop an annual calendar for budget development. The calendar will provide sufficient time for:
· establishing budget priorities based on ongoing consultations with
school employees, parents, students and other citizens;
· preparing budget requests by administrators and staff;
· budget proposal preparations;
·
public
hearings and informational meetings prior to formal adoption of a budget
proposal by the board.
2. The superintendent will
prepare a draft budget based on the district’s goals and the input of school,
community, and board members.
Preparation of the board's
budget presentation and other board strategies for explaining and supporting
its budget will be a formal agenda item at a meeting of the board prior to the
annual city meeting. The board will, after public hearings and/or informational
meetings, adopt a budget for consideration by the city’s voters. The budget
will be presented to the voters following the process outlined in the
Montpelier City Charter.
The Board will adopt a budget
presentation format that:
1.
reviews the accomplishments of the
prior year with regard to student performance and budgetary effectiveness in
addressing increased student performance;
2.
clarifies budget priorities linked
to student achievement adopted by the board during the budget preparation
process;
3.
emphasizes cost-saving measures
taken by the board during the current budget period;
4.
indicates anticipated amounts and
sources of revenue from sources other than local taxation
5.
compares costs and budget increases
or decreases for specific programs over a period of time;
6.
clearly indicates such key budgetary
factors as cost per pupil, student-teacher ratios, tax rate, and state aid
computations;
7.
allows ample time for questions from
voters;
8.
explains the relationship between
the budget and the amount of taxes to be raised;
9.
explains the relationship of the
needed tax rate and the tax bills that individuals will receive using
information developed by the State Department of Education.
Date
Adopted: April 7, 2004
Legal
Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §563 (Powers of
boards); 16 V.S.A. §165 (a)(1) (Action plans)
Cross Reference(s): Fiscal Management and Financial Accountability (E01); Financial Reports and Statements (E03)