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Meeting Date:
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5/20/2021 - 6:00 PM
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Category:
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Discussion Topics
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Type:
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Info
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Subject:
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Budget Advisory Committee Recommendations on FY 2023 Budget Process and Calendar
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ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
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Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments. Goal 5: Family and Community Engagement ACPS will ensure that all families and community members feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
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Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
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File Attachment:
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Agenda Item Summary:
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The Alexandria City School Board Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) presents the attached report and recommendations to Members of the Alexandria City School Board in furtherance of BAC’s 2020-2021 proposed scope of work.
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Background:
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During its 2019-2020 term, BAC surveyed the Board for input on ways that BAC could support its efforts to inform BAC’s 2020-2021 scope of work. One of the issues Board members identified was the relative sequencing of the Board’s and Alexandria City Council’s budget review and approval. Several Board Members voiced concern that the Board’s role in approving the Superintendent’s proposed budget had been devalued over time because the Alexandria City Manager typically releases his proposed budget to CityCouncil (including the ACPS appropriation) before the Board is scheduled to approve the Superintendent’s proposed budget. This was described as problematic because:
1. a Board vote adjusting the Superintendent’s proposed budget after the City Manager’s budget is released would be practically difficult, if not impossible, to implement;
2. it undermined one of the primary roles and functions of the School Board, to review and approve the budget; and
3. having the City Manager saying that he’s met ACPS’ request when the School Board has not actually approved the budget diminishes the Board’s role and autonomy.
Board Members noted that in recent years, this concern was less acute because the Board was sufficiently aligned with the Superintendent on the budget request, but if it were not the case, it could be highly problematic – and that as a best practice, it should be corrected.
BAC’s goal in taking on this work was to determine whether there is a way for the Board to develop a more streamlined, efficient budget process. While the concerns addressed above were the primary impetus for seeking this examination, BAC endeavored to look at the budget process holistically. For the purposes of this effort, BAC was focused on the Board’s Combined Funds budget process and not the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget process.
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Recommendation:
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Dominic Turner - Chief Financial Officer
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Signed By:
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Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent
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