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Overview of the budget process
Budget development actually
starts in every November when the Board of
Education begins to identify their budget
objectives and the factors external and
internal to the school district that are
likely to have the greatest impact on the
next year's budget. Such factors can include
rising prices for fuel or health insurance,
for example, or the expectation that we will
be impacted by a new state mandate or a
change in pupil enrollment.
By December, the Board
has created a detailed budget
development calendar that includes the
objectives and context for the new school
budget. In January, the Board of
Education receives preliminary budget
requests for the coming school year from
school administrators, as well as requests
for additional staffing and possible new or
improved programs.
February, March and early
April are spent analyzing and discussing
these requests at a series of public Finance
Committee meetings. The school board also
solicits public input on the budget and
devotes time to budget development issues at
its regular February and March business
meetings. Administrators work to refine
their numbers as more accurate cost
estimates and enrollment figures are
received during this period, and as Board
members ask them to analyze the advantages
and disadvantages of providing a service in
a different way.
Throughout the winter and
spring, school board members and
administrators are also monitoring budget
activity at the state level. BH-BL school
board members and administrators are in
frequent contact with local legislators to
inform them how various state funding
proposals will affect our schools.
In mid-April, the Board of
Education votes on a proposed budget. A
newsletter describing the budget is then
printed and mailed to all district homes in
early May. A copy of the proposed budget
broken down by line items is also available
in May at the main office of each school or
the District Office. The public vote on the
proposed budget is held by law on the third
Tuesday in May, which is May 18, 2010.
Voting:
Information on who can vote, absentee
ballots, etc., in school elections.
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