Here is a post from board member Krista Butts on her research on the budget advisory committee.
Here is the proposal that I presented to board members and will be discussed at the next meeting. I handed out copies to those in the room on Wednesday.
Budget Advisory Committee
The purpose of this advisory committee is advise the board in examining the budget line by line to look for cost savings measures that do not necessarily affect staffing. This committee will align with the district initiatives in that in order to meet 1.) raising proficiency levels of individual learners, and 2.) continuing to refine curriculum and instructional practices the appropriate staffing levels are needed. However, the community is largely requesting a 0% budget increase. While staffing is the largest part of our budget, we would need to examine which contracts are due for rebidding and complete that bidding process, and examine other innovative cost savings measures in other areas that would require time and resources that would potentially keep our administration from serving their other needs in the district. This is why a budget advisory committee is beneficial because it would allow us to gain the information necessary, without affecting other aspects of the district’s daily business.
This proposed committee would be made up of school board member(s) and community experts in budgeting and finance. Therefore, there would be no cost in forming the committee. There may be some insignificant cost in any accounts that may need to be re-bid, however, the district would incur this cost whether or not the committee did the work or the administration did the work. The potential savings that these would produce would far outweigh any costs incurred.
The benefit to the district is a budget that allows them to meet their district initiatives and potentially keep full staffing levels while still allowing for the budget reduction that its stockholders are deeming necessary.
The proposed composition of the committee would be 5-7 members, made up of at least one school board member. The remaining members could be designated as such. Three community members, would be chosen by the school board, preferably one from Lee, Madbury, and Durham respectively. Three community members each nominated by the town council of Durham, and the boards of selectman from Lee and Madbury. This would allow representation from each of the three towns and their governing bodies if they choose. All members would be required to have a background or level of expertise in budgeting and/or finance to advise the board accordingly. If a recommended committee position went unfilled by a town, it could be filled with any member that the school board sees fit or remain unfilled.
From the town of Durham weekly updates. Budget committees defined.
ReplyDeleteAn advisory budget or “finance” committee is formed by a school board to advise it relative to budget matters. The advisory budget committee’s membership and responsibilities are determined exclusively by the local school board which is ultimately free to incorporate or disregard the committee’s recommendations as it deems most appropriate. With an advisory budget committee, the school board as the governing body of the district remains the final arbiter of what is placed on the school meeting warrant with the exception of petition warrant articles.
A statutory budget committee, unlike an advisory budget or “finance” committee, has legal standing under the provisions of state law. According to RSA 32:1, the purpose of the statutory budget committee is to “assist voters in the prudent appropriation of public funds.” The N.H. Supreme Court has said that the purpose of the statutory budget committee is “to provide a committee with special knowledge to oversee and analyze the expenditures of the various towns and districts” of the state. A statutory budget committee provides an advisory opinion on spending directly to the voters, not simply to the school board, but it is the school meeting, not the budget committee, that sets the budget for the district. The relationship between the budget committee and the local board of education (or board of selectmen) within a district (town) does create some natural tension. The system is designed so that more than one set of minds considers budgetary issues. The statutory budget committee can second-guess a school board by proposing amounts for various purposes that are higher or lower than those proposed by the board itself. In the end, the voters at school district meeting are free to disagree with both the school board and the budget committee. The adopted budget and warrant articles set the actual spending plan for the district. There is one exception: In districts (or towns) with a statutory budget committee, the total bottom line amount appropriated by the voters at school district (or town) meeting cannot exceed the total amount recommended by the budget committee by more than 10 percent except under very specific circumstances outlined within the statute.
The complete state law dealing with statutory budget committees can be found within RSA 32, the Municipal Budget Law, at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/iii/32/32-mrg.htm .
This suggestion is a FARCE!
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell did we elect our school board members to do, give away their power?????
Come on folks, this is not going to change anything except to add another layer of bureaucracy to our operations. I also take issue with Krista Butts' suggestion that only board members and residents w/ financial experience can be on this committee. So if I wanted to serve on that committee I would be barred because I have a background in education?? What kind of sense does that make? The point of everything the board does is to operate schools and provide the best education for our children. But when someone with a background in education wants to be a part of this decision-making body, the board would say no thanks. We want people who no finance and will cut cut cut.
This is not best practice. This is stupid.
To School board members: don't follow the whim of a vocal minority (yes, it is a minority) and cause irreparable harm. We pay you (allebeit a small stipend) to do the budget - not pawn it off on someone else.
Think about your legacy to the great history of this school district. Don't ruin it for the ages to come.
It is not a minority. We are just afraid to go to meetings because of attitudes like yours.
ReplyDeleteIt is best practice, it is what most other districts do. Why not do it, this is stupid is simply not a reason. Another layer, we need a layer that actually puts teachers and kids first behind the inactions of this board.
I am appalled at how certain members of our board interact. It is very childish and not respectful at all. How is anything to be accomplished with ill feelings and discord on the board? One can agree to disagree but personal attacks should not be tolerated.
ReplyDeletea small group of people at a board meeting to ask for a budget committee is hardly a majority of the voters. I laugh at such a suggestion.
ReplyDeleteJust because you say most other districts (though I think you are wrong on this) have a budget committee is NOT a reason to create one. What this will do is take power away from our elected officials. That is why we elect them - to craft a budget, present it to the public and have them vote on it. School board members generally have a clue about what is going on in schools so they know priorities for each of our buildings. Random Joe's and Jane's in the district - some or most or all of whom don't have children in the schools -- won't have a clue and their only objective will be to cut cut cut (read Speidel, Brackett, Bradbury, etc.)
Don't support this gimmick. Don't support this budget committee.
Moving out of the weeds of personalities, it is great to see decisions being made by the Board no matter how cumbersome the process to get there.
ReplyDeleteA budget advisory committee is a great tool. When used effectively, it can be employed as a strategy for getting more community support of the budget and the budget process itself. Utilizing public input in this manner provides another layer of advocates. Hopefully this would alleviate some of the animosity that happens at the deliberative session because more people are part of the process and can help educate the public on the challenges of crafting a $40M budget. This is a net positive for both the board and the administration.
There are many great models being used by other districts that we can borrow and adapt. Maybe we could even get a town councilor/selectman or town administrator to serve on the committee or in an advisory capacity to bring credibility to the process.
It might be a great tool when used effectively. However, this board can't tell its own ass from its elbow so how do you think they'll get this right?
ReplyDeleteThis is not the savior that you are all hoping for. It's a gimmick that adds many layers of bureacracy to the already cumbersome process called budgeting.
The budget committee is not the answer.
If it is not the answer, does the above has any suggestions what the answer is? I am open to other suggestions but I realize also something needs to be done differently or better here in this district.
ReplyDelete