File:  DBD - Determination of Budget Priorities

All resources of the district shall be directed toward ensuring that all students reach their learning potential, including that they meet or exceed state and district content standards.  A minimum of 40% of district resources shall be allocated to instruction.

In order to fulfill its trustee obligation with regard to district resources, the Board must know how resources are currently allocated, whether such allocation is effective and what changes should be made to achieve the greatest educational returns.  The superintendent shall develop a comprehensive and ongoing system to collect and analyze resource allocation information.  The analysis of this information shall form the basis for the budget prepared by the superintendent for presentation to the Board. The system shall:

1.  determine how resources are currently allocated by school and program

2.  link specific inputs with results for students and determine whether the current allocation of resources is effective in raising student achievement

3.  identify ways to better use resources to achieve the district's educational objectives and improve teaching and learning

Accordingly, the budget prepared and presented by the superintendent shall:

1.  include contingency plans in the event budget assumptions prove erroneous

2.  be in a summary format understandable by a lay person

3.  itemize district expenditures by fund

4.  include information regarding school-level expenditures

5.  adequately describe proposed expenditures

6.  show the amount budgeted for the current fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the ensuing fiscal year

7.  comply with spending limitations in the state constitution

8.  contain enough information to enable credible projection of revenue and expenses

9.  disclose budget planning assumptions

10.  not excessively rely on nonrecurring revenues

11.  not provide for expenditures, interfund transfers or reserves in excess of available revenues and beginning fund balances

12.  not include the use of beginning fund balance unless the Board has adopted a resolution as described in state law specifically authorizing such use

13.  not reduce without approval of the Board, the current cash reserves at any time to less than the minimum amount required by the spending limitations set forth in the state constitution

14.  provide adequate and reasonable budget support for Board development and other governance priorities, including the costs of fiscal audits, Board and committee meetings, Board memberships and district legal fees

15.  take into consideration fiscal soundness in future years and plans for the building of organizational capabilities sufficient to achieve the Board's goals in future years

16.  reflect anticipated changes in employee compensation including inflationary adjustments, step increases, performance increases and benefits

17.  provide sufficient resources to address the district's facility needs.

18.  comply with state and federal law

In order to maintain fiscal stability, the Board believes the general fund balance should be at or above 25% of the prior year's audited budget figures, including the Tabor reserve.  Such a reserve will allow the district time to react to decreased student enrollment, decreased state funding, or a general turndown in the economy.  If the ratio dips below 25%, the superintendent's annual report will state the reasons why and include recommendations which will support its return to 25%.

Adopted November 10, 1992

Revised August, 1997

Revised December 8, 2003

Revised May 18, 2006

Revised November 9, 2009

Revised July 8, 2013

LEGAL REFS.:  C.R.S. 22-7-105

C.R.S. 22-7-207

C.R.S. 22-44-105 (1.5)(a) (budget parameters regarding expenses not exceeding revenue and use of beginning fund balance)

CROSS REF.:  AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment