Portland School Committee

Finance Subcommittee

 

Annual Report

November 2009

 

Role of the Subcommittee:

The Finance Committee is an oversight body which is responsible for:

  • Conducting workshops and hearings on the PPS budget;
  • Recommending a proposed budget to the full School Committee and the City Council; and
  • Overseeing and reporting on the school district’s budget and financial status throughout the year.

 

The Portland Public School budget seeks to:

        • Communicate priorities, and
        • Support the mission of the Portland Public Schools

 

Activities and Accomplishments during 2008-2009:

  • Consistent schedule of join finance committee meetings
  • Meetings with the Portland legislative delegation to in order to develop relationships, better understand the state funding formula, and begin to prepare for the threatened FY09 mid-year curtailment
  • Developed a schedule to ensure predictable monthly and quarterly YTD reports ot the Finance Committee
  • Worked closely with Superintendent and Business Manager to develop and communicate a reliable FY10 budget
  • Worked closely with Superintendent and Business Manager to oversee the actual FY09 expenditures, mindful of the need to replenish fund balance and avoid a deficit
  • Conducted public hearings on the FY10 budget
  • Held workshops with the full School Committee regarding budget development, curtailment and fund balance issues
  • Worked with City Councilors and City Staff to continue the work begun (in 2007) with the adoption of the Plan for Sustainable Education in Portland
  • Worked with City Councilors and City Staff to use the independent financial audit report as a guide for improvement regarding PPS’ accounting, and district system management procedures
  • Communicated with press/media
  • Communicated with community about Referendum

 

New Initiatives:

  • Multi Year Budget Resolution (adopted Spring, 2009)
  • World Language Curriculum Coordinator position built into the FY10 budget
  • Exploring options associated with school district Reserve Account mechanisms
  • FY10 Curtailment Resolution (adopted October, 2009)

 

Priorities for 2009-2010:

 

  • Oversee the FY10 budget; providing regular reports to the full School Committee
  • Development of FY11 budget; mindful of state subsidy decrease and possible curtailment
  • Multi Year Budgeting Plan – continued development and application
  • Continue regular joint finance committee meetings, and meetings with Portland’s (and surrounding communities’) legislative delegation
  • FY10 response to curtailment
  • Finalize updates to finance policies; and move to School Committee adoption
  • Continued work to realize –and expand - goals and objectives outlined in the Plan for Sustainable Education in Portland
  • Continued use of independent audit results as guide for improvement
  • Direct work to identify possible expansion of revenue, support, sponsorship options