and revenue of the district for the school year beginning on the first day of July and ending on the 30th day of June following. 3. Section DBC - BUDGET DEADLINES AND SCHEDULES Preparation of the annual budget will be scheduled in stages throughout the school year with attention to certain deadlines established by law and charter. The calendar year for budget preparation will be determined by calculating backwards from the final adoption date. Whatever dates are assigned, the final date for the submission of the budget to the City Council will be arranged cooperatively with the School Committee and Chief Financial Officer. The City Council has authority to impose a date as early as December 31. In reaching its decision on the budget amount that it will submit to the City Council, the School Committee will also observe the statutory requirement of holding a public hearing on the proposed budget not less than seven days after the notice for this hearing has been published in local media. 4. Section DBD - BUDGET PLANNING The first priority in the development of an annual budget will be the educational welfare of the students in our schools. However, the School Committee will also attempt to balance the valid interest of the taxpayers. Budget decisions reflect the attitude and philosophy of those charged with the responsibility for educational decision-making. Therefore, a sound budget development process must be established to ensure that the annual operating budget accurately reflects this school system's goals and objectives. In the budget planning process for the school system, the School Committee will strive to: a. Engage in thorough advance planning, with staff and community involvement, to develop budgets and guide expenditures in a manner that will achieve the greatest educational returns and contributions to the educational program in relation to dollars expended. b. Establish levels of funding that will provide high quality education for all our students. c. Use the best available techniques for budget development and management. d. The Superintendent will have overall responsibility for budget preparation, including the construction of, and adherence to, a budget calendar. 5. Section DBG - BUDGET ADOPTION PROCEDURES The School Committee shall, after a public hearing, vote on a final budget amount to be presented to the City Council. The mayor has the authority, by law, to increase or decrease the appropriation but not the individual amounts that comprise each line item. The Council has the right, by law, to decrease the amount of the total appropriation but not the individual amounts that comprise each line item. Should the appropriation differ, the School Committee shall review line items so that the total coincides.
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