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2016-17 Budget Process Guidelines

The Board of Education has begun planning for the 2016-17 budgeting process. Below is the proposed timeline:
October 2015
- Board of Education reviews parameters, process and Guiding Change Document
- Budget Preparation Presentation for 2016-17 (active link)

November 2015
- Board finalizes and approves Guiding Change Document for 2016-17 budget process

December 2015 - February 2016
- Administration builds 2016-17 budget based on the Guiding Change Document

March 2016
- Board and community review proposed 2016-17 budget recommendations on March 14 at 6:30 PM at City Hall
- Board approves 2016-17 budget recommendations on March 28

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Part of this process is developing a Guiding Change Document and use it to outline parameters of key decisions. The Guiding Change Document has three sections: context and reality (assumptions), desired results, and unacceptable means. These three components set the parameters and guide the decision making process.


 November 9, 2015

The Board of Education has begun planning for the 2016-17 budgeting process. Part of this process is developing a Guiding Change Document and use it to outline parameters of key decisions. The Guiding Change Document has three sections: context and reality (assumptions), desired results, and unacceptable means. These three components set the parameters and guide the decision making process. Click here to download the Guiding Change Document.
            
                                                 

 GUIDING CHANGE: 2016-17 Budget
Context & Reality
“The Why”
 Unacceptable Means
“The Not-How”		 Results
“The What”
 
  1. District Mission and Vision.
  2. State funding has not kept pace with inflation.
  3. Operating Levy expires at the end of 2019-20.
  4. Capital Projects Levyexpires at the end of 2019-20.
  5. Enrollment is projected to increase slightly through 2018-19 and then level off/decreases slightly.
  6. Community surveyshowed residents would not support levy in 2015.
  7. 80% of District costs are salaries and benefits.
  8. District continues to seeincrease in diversity, poverty and free/reduced lunch population rates.
  9. School Board is required to establish budget
    by July 1, 2016.
 		  
  1. Recommend a budget where June 30, 2017 fund balancefalls below district policy.
  2. Violate law, financial regulations, contracts or agreements.
  3. Contradict the Mission and Vision of South St. Paul Public Schools.
  4. Develop recommendations that do not put students first.
  5. Recommend budget changes that do not address financial sustainability and expected outcomes.
  6. The District will not substantially reduce the following programs:
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Co-curriculars
  • Kindergarten Readiness
  • PLTW/STEAM
 		  
  1. Align budget to District Mission, Vision and Strategic Directions.
  2. Establish a budget that follows fund balance policy.
  3. Maintains quality programming and services over next two budgets until needed levy approval in 2017.
  4. Considers additions, reductions and redesign.
  5. Efficient and effective use of resources.
  6. Implementation of priority actions of District Strategic Roadmap.