Top 5 Budget Events

These are not in order of importance!

1.  Planning before the budget process begins.  With a concerted effort here, the budget process can be much smoother.  By allowing for input in the planning process from stakeholders, such as the Board of Trustees and staff members, the business manager and superintendent can get a clearer vision before starting of their final destination in the budget process.  Planning also includes the goals needing to be met by the district.  Without these goals, you do not have a goal driven budget.

2.  August 31 (or June 30 if the district uses a July 1 fiscal year start date) is the date by which the Board of Trustees must approve the budget for the coming school year.  This date is important since it allows for all stakeholders to know what their budgets will look like for the year. 

3.  Campus budget request submissions are a big part of the process.  Without these requests, district administration cannot try to piece a budget together that involves multiple campuses, multiple needs and multiple opinions on the best way to reach the district goals.

4.  The public budget hearing allows for community stakeholders to have a voice in the budget process.  This time is used for individuals or even groups to come together before the board legally adopts the budget.

5.  Setting the tax rate for the year is another important event of the budget process and has all kinds of asterisks out beside it.  The tax rate allows the local assessor to calculate the taxes on each property to provide the district with the appropriate figures.