DC: Annual Operating Budget

The district budget shall be prepared by the superintendent in cooperation with selected district employees and shall reflect the district's educational goals, including improvement in student academic performance as described in board policy DB and state law.

The superintendent shall follow the adopted budget.

The district shall fund the operating budget according to approved fiscal and budgetary procedures required be the State of Kansas.

Budget Forms

Budget forms used shall be those prepared and recommended by the Kansas State Department of Education. Budget summary documents shall be prepared on forms provided by the Kansas State Department of Education.

Priorities

The board will establish priorities for the district on a short-term, intermediate, and long-range basis, taking into consideration the requirements for budgeting.

Deadlines and Schedules

Deadlines and time schedules shall be established by the board, unless otherwise provided by state law.

Encumbrances

An encumbrance shall be made when a purchase is made or when an approved purchase order is processed. All encumbrances shall be charged to a specific fund. All necessary encumbrances shall be made by the superintendent.

Recommendations

Recommendations of the superintendent and professional staff concerning the district's budget allocations will be presented to the board prior to submission of the tentative draft budget.

Preliminary Adoption Procedures

The superintendent will be responsible for developing the budget cover letter. It is recommended that the letter include a restatement of the goals and objectives of the district and a list of budget priorities. An explanation of line- item expenditures will be included in the letter. Fund expenditures and line categories will also be explained in terms of how the budget meets the goals and objectives of the district and enhances completion of priority programs. A preliminary draft of the district's budget will be submitted by the superintendent within a timeframe that allows the district to comply with all statutory deadlines.

Hearings and Reviews

The board shall conduct budget hearings according to state law. The minutes of the meeting at which the board approves its annual budget shall state a needs assessment was provided to the board in accordance with board policy DB and state law, the board evaluated such assessment, and the manner in which the board used such assessment in the approval of the district's budget.

District budgets, the summary of the proposed budget, the needs assessment, and the state assessment documentation described in board policy DB shall be on file at the administrative offices of the district and available on the district's website.

Budget Transparency

The district shall comply with the requirements of the Kansas Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Act and rules and regulations promulgated by the Kansas State Board of Education thereunder in maintaining, reporting, publishing on the district's website, and making available to the public specific budgetary records, forms, and information.

Management of District Assets/Accounts

The superintendent shall establish and maintain accurate, financial management systems to meet the district's fiscal obligations, produce useful information for financial reports, and safeguard district resources. The superintendent shall ensure the district's accounting system provides ongoing internal controls. The superintendent shall review the accounting system with the board.