TEA Budgeting Guidelines

The TEA Budgeting Guidelines, January 2010, is a wealth of information on the budgeting process. After reviewing these guidelines, I learned about different budgetary approaches, legal requirements, roles and responsibilities, revenue estimates, financial forecasting and planning, budgeting for grant programs and multi-year construction projects. From these guidelines, I will be able to use this information in helping me develop a district budget or contribute to developing a district budget because this document walks a person through developing a budget from the beginning to the end. It also provides the guidelines set forward by the Texas Education Agency including a district’s responsibility to the community.

         First I learned simply about different budget approaches. The TEA Budgeting Guidelines explains the five basic approaches to budgeting. It explains each approach has relative advantages and limitations. Also, one single approach may not be effective. A hybridized approach may be more appropriate depending on the needs of the district.

            Next I learned about the legal requirement for budgets and the roles and responsibilities of developing a district budget.  It explains the state guidance allows for considerable district autonomy during the budget process. I learned the Texas Education Code sections 44.002 and 44.006 establish the legal basis for budget development. This section of the resource guide explains the Superintendent is the budget officer for the district and prepares the budget. It also points out that TEA recommends an interactive approach between the board of trustees and the Superintendent while developing a district budget.

Next I learned about annual district revenue estimates. District revenue estimates are based on a variety of demographic and tax information. However, there are two main sources of district revenue. The two sources are the Foundation School Program revenue and the local property taxes. These two sources are essential to developing a budget.

Lastly, this resource guide provides information that a district may not be including every year in a budget such as grants and multi-year construction projects. Grant information is not required for a school district’s officially adopted annual budget, but this information may be included as a supplement or if the local district requires this information to be included in the budget. Next, the resource guide provided information on the preparation of construction project budgets.

        The TEA Budgeting Guidelines will be a useful document in the future because it contains necessary information on developing a district budget. It provides the guidelines set forward by the Texas Education Agency. As a Superintendent this document is necessary to have to refer to on regular bases as a resource guide as a district goes through the budget process. Ultimately, it is the Superintendent’s role and responsibility to develop the district budget and this document will be a tool to guide the Superintendent through the budget process.

Reflection

     The TEA Budgeting Guidelines provides a wealth of information for a Superintendent while going through the budget process. After reviewing these guidelines, I learned about different budgetary approaches, legal requirements, roles and responsibilities, revenue estimates, financial forecasting and planning, budgeting for grant programs and multi-year construction projects. From these guidelines, I will be able to use this information in helping me develop a district budget or contribute to developing a district budget because this document walks a person through developing a budget from the beginning to the end. It also provides the guidelines set forward by the Texas Education Agency. Ultimately, it is the Superintendent’s role and responsibility to develop the district budget and this document will be a tool to guide the Superintendent through the budget process.