While certain times of the year see increased budget-related activity, developing a budget that meets the needs of our students and school while also reflecting local residents’ input is a year-long process. As such, the community is welcome and encouraged to participate in this process. The budget development timeline lists the various steps in the process:
Budget Development Calendar
October:
Superintendent and Business Administrator review Budget Planning Handbook and process and meet with administrators
November:
Superintendent and Business Administrator review Enrollment Projections with administrators for allocations for instructional materials
Administrators submit Program Goals, Instructional Administrator to Superintendent
December:
- Administrators and department supervisors submit Support Staff Personnel requests, with rationale to Business Administrator
- Director of Facilities and Transportation Director submit Staffing, Supplies, Equipment and other Expenses for Operations & Maintenance to Business Administrator
- Administrators submit Special Maintenance needs submitted to Business Administrator (Routine summer projects, with no budget impact, can be identified until mid-April.)
- Administrators submit Instructional Staffing requests, with rationale, to Superintendent
- Administrators submit Instructional Equipment requests to Business Administrator
January:
- Administrators submit Supplies, Conferences, and Other Expenses to Business Administrator
- Superintendent and Business Administrator analyze revenue projections and budget requests to assemble Preliminary Budget
- Superintendent and Business Administrator have internal meetings with administrators to review requests and make modifications
- Superintendent and Business Administrator present Rollover Budget Scenario to Board of Education
Key dates:
Jan. 15 – Governor’s budget proposal for state aid distribution made available to school districts. (Estimated)
Jan. 16 – Board of Education meeting, presentation of rollover 2020-21 budget
February:
- Superintendent and Business Administrator present Preliminary Budget to Board of Education Business Admin.
Key dates:
Feb. 13 – Board of Education meeting, presentation of tentative 2020-21 budget
March:
- Superintendent and Business Administrator review Budget during Board work sessions, present Tentative Budget
Key dates:
March 1 – Submit 2020-21 calculation for tax levy limit to the Office of the Comptroller, Tax and Finance and the State Education Department.
March 19 – Board of Education meeting, presentation of tentative 2020-21 budget.
March 27 – Publication of 1st legal notice of school budget hearing and budget vote.
April:
- Board of Education adopts Proposed Budget to be considered by voters in May
- Budget Newsletter written and printed for mailing in May
Key dates:
April 9 – Special Board of Education meeting, adopt 2020-21 budget and propositions; approve Property Tax Report Card.
April 10 – Submit Property Tax Report Card to the State Education Department and local newspapers.
April 20 – Deadline for submission of voter petitions for propositions to be placed on the ballot (30 days preceding budget vote).
April 20 – School board candidate nominating petitions due in district clerk’s office by 5 p.m. (30 days preceding budget vote).
April 21 – Date of drawing by district clerk for determination of order for listing board candidate on election ballot, 9 a.m., district office.
April 27 – Budget newsletter prepared and sent to the printing company.
April 30 – Budget statement and required attachments made available seven days prior to budget hearing.
May:
- Public Hearing on Proposed Budget at Board of Education meeting
- Budget Newsletter/Budget Notice distributed to voter households
Key dates
May 5 – Board of Education meeting and Public Hearing on proposed 2020-21 budget.
May 8 – Budget notice and newsletter mailed to eligible voters after the budget hearing, but no later than six days prior to the vote.
May 19 – Budget Vote and Board of Education member election that would have been held on this date has been postponed until June 9 due to the COVID-19 health emergency. More information is available here.