Presenting the Budget

A public notice must be published twice, once not earlier than 30 days prior to the meeting, and the second publication not later than five days prior to the meeting. The two notices must be at least seven days apart. However, the proposed budget document may be provided to budget committee members “not more than ten days” prior to the first budget committee meeting. The budget document becomes a public record available for public inspection at the time it is given to the budget committee members. (ORS 294.401)

At the first meeting, the district’s chief executive officer, usually the superintendent, is required to present a budget message. The budget message explains the proposed budget and any significant changes in the district’s programs or financial position. (ORS 294.341 and 294.391)

The budget document presented with the budget message must include cost estimates for the next fiscal year plus a three-year history of actual and budgeted expenditures. (ORS 294.352 and 294.376)

The allocation of funds within the budget reflects a district’s educational priorities. Each district has its own method of determining these priorities. In some districts budget preparation is a community process. In others, budget preparation starts in the buildings with school councils or teachers and even parents submitting budget requests to principals. In still other districts, the superintendent and central office staff prepare the budget.

Once the budget is presented to the budget committee all items in it are subject to public debate. All meetings of the budget committee are public. Any person may appear to ask questions on any item in the budget document. (Constitutional limitations do not change the role of the budget committee to set school program priorities.) (ORS 294.401)

Copies of the budget document are available to reporters and citizens upon request.

[Return to top]