Week two
assignment, Part 2 – State budget development insights
Reflection:
There
are really three dates that the district can identify as important to the
budgetary process and as being in the ‘top five’. TEA mandates two dates,
August 20 and August 31. I chose these two dates because it is the law. I think
that identifying the process as the first date of significance in the creation
of the budget because without a well thought out plan chaos will run rampant
and funds will be spent on ‘stuff’ that lacks true, meaningful purpose. The
other date I think is important is the preliminary estimate of the taxable
values from the appraisal district. Districts must not spend more than they are
allotted. I also think that communication is crucial in the development of a
district budget. All budget managers should be on the same plan in the sense
that they do not duplicate efforts and spend ISD funds on the same thing more
than once. I think it is important that a district body review all budgets to
ensure that funds are spent wisely and not duplicated. Ultimately my ‘top five’
dates for budget planning include the two dates that are mandated by TEA, one
early in the year to establish the process, another to assess potential
revenue, and finally one that is focused on communicating the intent of all
proposed budgets by all budget managers.
My “top five”
list of important budget development dates are as follows:
- November: Budget process approved
by the Superintendent
Why? The process
is as important as the budget itself. In the absence of a well thought out plan
it is likely that funds will be budgeted and spent on things that do little to
address identified needs or to achieve the goals of the district that are
established by the Board of Trustees.
- March – April: Review and analyze
the budget requests by district team
Why? It is
good to review all the budgets requested from all managers beginning with the
district level so that efforts are not duplicated and to ensure that all
requests are supported by a need and also are tied from to a district goal.
- May: Receive preliminary estimate
of taxable values from Central Appraisal District.
Why? The
requested output, the budget can’t be greater than the input, the allotted ISD
budget that is formula driven at the state level and is impacted by local tax
revenue.
- August 20: The last day to post
the proposed budget so the public can review it.
Why? It is the
law, section 44.002 – 44.006 of the Texas Education Code. The proposed budget
must be posted for a 10 day review period prior to being adopted by the Board
of Trustees.
- August 31: The last day that the
budget can be officially adopted.
Why? Again, it is the law. This is the second of two dates (August 20
being the other) that is mandated by TEA. This is the last day that the Board
of Trustees can adopt the budget as the fiscal year ends on August 31 and the
new year begins on September 1.
Earl, our dates are very similar. I think the only difference was you listed the starting of the process design in November and I listed the certified tax rolls in July. We'll see what Richard posts and then we should be able to come to a consensus fairly easily! Good job!!!
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