Budget Responsibility
It is the policy of the Board to accept the fiscal responsibility to spend the funds available to the District within the limitations established by the Code of Iowa to achieve the best educational results for the students of the District.
Preparation of the Budget Document
A budget for the District is prepared annually for the Board’s review. The preparation of the formal budget document will be the responsibility of the Board Secretary/Business Manager. The Board Secretary/Business Manager will present to the Board of Directors, prior to the April 15 deadline for budget certification, a proposed budget showing the financial needs of the District for the ensuing fiscal year.
Requirements of the Budget Document
The budget will include the following:
- the estimated amount of revenues to be raised by taxation;
- the estimated amount of revenues from sources other than taxation;
- an itemization of the estimated amount to be spent in each fund; and,
- a comparison of the amounts proposed to be expended with the amounts expended for like purposes in the two prior fiscal years.
Board Review of the Proposed Budget
Prior to certification of the budget, the Board will review the proposed budget for the District and make adjustments where necessary to carry out the operations of the District within the revenues projections.
Publication and Public Review of the Proposed Budget
Prior to the adoption of the proposed budget by the Board, the public is apprised of the proposed budget for the District. Prior to the adoption of the proposed budget by the Board, members of the District community will have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed budget. A public hearing for the proposed budget of the Board is held each year in sufficient time to file the adopted budget no later than April 15.
The proposed budget filed by the Board with the Board Secretary and the time and place for the public hearing on the proposed budget is published in a newspaper designated for official publication in the District. It is the responsibility of the Board Secretary to publish the proposed budget and public hearing information at least ten but no more than 20 days prior to the public hearing.
Adoption of the Budget by the Board
The Board will adopt and certify a budget for the operation of the District to the county auditor by April 15. It is the responsibility of the Board Secretary to file the adopted and certified budget with the county auditor and other proper authorities.
Amendment of the Budget
The Board may amend the budget for the fiscal year in the event of unforeseen circumstances. The amendment procedures will follow the procedures for public review and adoption of the original budget by the Board outlined in these policies. It is the responsibility of the superintendent and the Board Secretary to bring any budget amendments necessary to the attention of the Board to allow sufficient time to file the amendment with the county auditor no later than May 31 of each year.
The Budget as a Spending Plan
Prior to the beginning of the new school year, a detailed line‐item expenditure budget will be prepared and presented to the Board for approval. The budget will be based on the revenue and expenditure budget amounts of the Certified budget.
The preparation of the formal spending plan will be the responsibility of the Board Secretary/Business Manager. All administrative supervisory personnel will be involved in submitting allocation information for the formation of the budget. The entire staff shall be involved in establishing priorities for budget requests.
The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy Fund
The Board of Directors will vote on whether to levy a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy, up to a maximum of $.33 per $1000 assessed valuation, each year. This tax must be acted upon and reported to the County Auditor and State Department of Education no later than April 15 of the year preceding the fiscal year in which it is to be levied. The Physical Plant and Equipment Fund will be presented to the Board of Directors as part of the budget approval process. Certification of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy will take place at the regular board meeting specified for budget adoption.
The Management Fund
The Board of Directors will vote on whether to levy a Management Fund Tax each year. This tax must be acted upon and reported to the County Auditor and State Department of Education no later than April 15 of the year preceding the fiscal year in which it is to be levied. The Management Fund Levy will be presented to the Board of Directors as part of the budget approval process. Certification of the Management Fund will take place at the regular Board meeting specified for budget adoption.
Expenditures from the Management Fund will be in compliance with purposes listed in Chapter 613A of the Code of Iowa. These expenditures will include but not be limited to the cost of all liability insurance premiums, errors and omissions insurance premiums, workers compensation insurance premiums, unemployment insurance claims and premiums, administrative costs associated with unemployment compensation, and early retirements benefits.
Approved: May 20, 1990
Reviewed: June 12, 2017
Revised: April 23, 2012