Understanding TEA Budgeting Guidelines

Reading the TEA Budgeting Guidelines in one sitting is not something I would recommend to anyone.  There is so much rich information that is provided that you will need time to sit, digest, and reflect on the information presented and this would be better done in multiple sittings.  

Learning about the different budgetary approaches and making myself familiar with the type used in the district will be very beneficial to me.  I must be comfortable with the approach being used and if not, I must be able to initiate change and provide pros and cons for the approach I would like to implement. While the line-item approach is the most traditional, I must be aware of the others just in case I am faced with a different approach at some time.  

The other area I learned quite a bit is in the legal requirements for budgeting.  While the school district’s budget preparation is largely the responsibility of the school board and superintendent, Texas law and TEA legal requirements help pave the way for there to be some uniformity in the state and processes.  There may also be some local requirements that are set as well that help aid in the budgeting process. 

Developing and following a budgeting calendar is a must in the budgeting process.  I really like the format provided in the resource section as it sets out the dates and persons responsible for overseeing that the individual activities be completed in a timely manner.  This also helps with accountability because any little snag in the calendar could be detrimental to the entire process and lead to the superintendent not being able to meet the deadlines that are legally set.  

Learning about the different tiers in the Foundation School Program is something that I will need to further review and become more comfortable with since this is the nuts and bolts of how the district will receive monies from the state and locally.  PEIMS plays an essential part in this process since the required information is gathered through that state system.  If information is not correct in that system, it could also really hamper your district’s ability to collect the funds that it is due to receive.  

Future forecasting in the different areas of revenue, expenditures, capital cost, debt service cost, and operating costs is a data collection and analyzing the budget is challenging, but so vitally important in today’s situation. A district that has the ability to forecast and plan in years to come stands a better chance of overcoming the changes in revenue and keeps them from being in a crises situation.

    The TEA Budget Guidelines is a resource guide that every new superintendent needs to be familiar with and utilize. In such a very complex world of school finance, budgeting and funding is an area that is constantly changing and requires more than just a general understanding of budgeting.