Board of Education Finance Committee (Thursday, August 24, 2017)

Generated by Debbie Tressler on Thursday, August 24, 2017

1. Agenda

A. Call to Order 10:05

B. Roll Call

Zen Kelly, Mike Illg and Dave Jones (via video conference)

Lynn Hohl (telephonically)

Sean Dusek, Jimmy Love, Joe Arness, Liz Hayes, Debbie Cary, Debbie Tressler
Absent: Dan Castimore

C. Fiscal Plan and Timeline

The committee discussed the activities related to board goal #1 and which part of those activities that the committee will handle.

Mr. Kelly would like to meet throughout the year stating that the committee can be an educational conduit for board members to learn where money is spent. He suggested dividing expenditures by object and reviewing one section per committee meeting. The committee agreed the budget timeline and meetings from last year worked well and this year's schedule could mirror it.

The committee would like to be review the funding assumptions that must be made during the budget development and fine tune them (i.e. mill rate, state funding, pupil projections). Mr. Jones agreed and stated the assumptions begin as early as October with enrollment information from schools. The finance department will work with the committee on this.

October 17 was suggested as the first site council presentation with another possible site council presentation in December.

D. Committee Charge Revision

The finance and budget review committee charges will be combined into one. Mr. Kelly will produce a draft charge to be presented at the next committee meeting and for action at the Sept. 11 business meeting. The revised charge will state that the committee will consist of 4 board members.

E. Information Review and Further Discussion

The expenditure budget will be broken down to six sections for separate review by the committee. The board reviewed the supplies section. Ms. Hayes and Mr. Jones discussed and explained the Chart of Accounts, the budget development process and the assumptions that are made during the process.

The committee reviewed the reports that were provided for the meeting and discussed their meanings. It was noted that instructional and office supply allocations are based on projected student enrollment (determined in Oct. the previous year).

Mr. Kelly clarified that the committee is dealing with about 20% of the total 100 fund budget as about 80% of the district's budget is for personnel costs.

F. Information Requests to Adminstration

Mr. Kelly explained that this part of the meeting is provided for members to request information that is wanted or needed for the next meeting. The information requested will be the first agenda item for the following meeting.

The committee discussed the possibility of having a one-page per facility information sheet containing pool or theatre data to share with people when requested.

Mr. Kelly encouraged the committee to review expenditures and question those which seem unusual.

Ms. Hayes and Mr. Jones explained the Connections Homeschool allocations and how they are determined.

Ms. Hohl requested public feedback from last year regarding the budget reductions. Mr. Jones will review the input for the next meeting.

The next meeting will be on Sept. 11 at Homer High School. The expenditure category to review is Travel - staff and student.

G. Adjourn 12:00 p.m.