DB Annual Budget
DB
ANNUAL BUDGET
The Regional School District Committee delegates the development of the District budget to the Budget Finance Sub-Committee which will, with the Superintendent and Director of Finance and Business Operations, develop annual budgets for the operating and maintenance of the District, and such capital budgets as shall be necessary for the pursuit of the goals of the District and the educational programs proposed and approved by the District Committee.
Said budget shall conform to the guidelines as set forth by the Legislature in Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws and directives and regulations as set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and shall be in compliance with the foundation budget. It is acknowledged that the foundation budget reflects the minimum recommended spending for a District, and excludes transportation costs, debt service costs, and costs associated with the acquisition of fixed assets. The aforementioned items must, therefore, be budgeted in addition to the foundation budget, and funds to support those expenditures must be raised from the member communities, after the use of any offsetting revenues received from the state.
A budget is a spending plan, which is developed well in advance of the fiscal year. Circumstances may occur which necessitate changing spending priorities and redirecting funds within the budget accordingly. Revisions to the budget may be made from time to time by the Committee. Revisions shall be made with input from the Superintendent.
The annual budget for each school operated by the District shall be developed with input from the School Council, and shall consider the priorities established in the Annual School Improvement Plans.
In developing a budget, care shall be taken to make the documents associated with the budget clear and understandable to Finance Committees, Advisory Boards and the Selectmen of the member communities and to the general public.
In accordance with the Regional Agreement, the District Committee shall hold a public hearing prior to the adoption of the Final Operating and Maintenance Budget. The Superintendent and members of the Budget Finance Sub-Committee will make every effort to fully inform all member communities and their officials of the budget plans of the District.
The Committee shall certify a budget pursuant to the Regional Agreement and state law.
Assessments to member communities shall be made in compliance with the foundation budget, which may, in certain instances, differ from the apportionment under the District Agreement. When there is a conflict, state law shall prevail. In assessing for expenditures which are excluded from the foundation budget, the District Agreement shall determine the apportionment of assessments after the District Committee has applied all applicable state aid.-
SOURCE: MASC
LEGAL REFS: M.G.L. 71:16B; 71:34; 71:37; 71:38N and 70:6
Regulation: DB-R Budget - Apportionment of Expenses
First Reading; 11/15/05 Second Reading: 12/06/05 ADOPTED: 12/20/05 Reviewed: 10/21/15