How is the general fund budget to be structured for public presentation in connection with the annual budget vote and election?
The budget is to be divided into three components: an administrative component; a program component; and a capital component. Each must be separately delineated in accordance with regulations of the Commissioner of Education (for a chart which separates specific account codes into the three components, click here). The budget must categorize revenues, property taxes refunds, expenditures, budget transfers and fund balance information. This information is to be formatted to show changes in the data as compared with the previous year. The budget must be presented in plain language which best promotes public comprehension and readability. QUESTION: What basis was used to determine the appropriations to be included in each of the three components? ANSWER: Basically, the functional units prescribed by the Uniform System of Accounts for School Districts were used to divide appropriations among the three components. In most instances, whole functional units were used. In a few instances, howe
