for help call: 1.800.578.OSBA
Budget and finance
OSBA provides a variety of resources to help school districts with budget and financial issues.
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A few cautions about shortening the school year or eliminating days
School districts should consider several issues before making the decision to offer a shortened school year either this year or next.
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Consider replacing early retirement incentives with TSAs
Your Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) may not be the best cost-saving strategy in today’s climate of rising health care costs. In fact, OSBA recommends that districts conduct a cost-benefit analysis of ERI programs. A growing number of districts have bargained a sunset on these programs, reduced benefits, or immediately discontinued the program. One alternative is to substitute ERI packages with a district-funded Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA).
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Ending fund balance-how much is enough?
Unions are targeting “ending fund balances” as a source to fund their salary and benefit proposals. This has become a popular issue at the legislature, in budget meetings and at bargaining tables. So, what is ending fund balance and why do we need it?
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Engaging the community in budget development
Learn from Gresham-Barlow School District how to engage your community in setting budgeting priorities.
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Insurance strategies - when more is better
What do striking grocery workers, the longest school district strike in Washington state history, Chicago teachers taking a strike vote and an eagerly awaited report from Portland Public Schools all have in common? The rising cost of health insurance.
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Shortening the school year
As Oregon's economic woes deepen and financial uncertainty grows, some districts are considering early closure or a shortened school year for 2008-09 or beyond. There are several issues districts should consider before deciding to shorten the school year.