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.