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SPECIAL REPORT: BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT, OVERSIGHT, AND CONTROL
This Board meeting focused on budget materials ranging
from a review of the 2003-04 auditor's report to discussion
of best practices for budgeting oversight and control,
a preview of the District's planning for next year's
budget, and a projection for the next five years.
Auditor's Report
Mr. Les Storch, from the audit firm of O'Connor, Davies,
Munns, and
Dobbins, was present to review with the Board the
independent auditor's report for the school year which
ended June 30, 2004. The essence of his report was
that the School District was again receiving an "unqualified
opinion" in its audit; Mr. Storch explained that
in laymen's language, that was a "clean report."
Oversight and Control
In This Issue..
Special
Report: Budget Development, Oversight
& Control
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1&2 |
| Business
Agenda
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2 |
| Board
Action Summary |
2 |
| Coming
Attractions |
2 |
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Even after hearing the news of another clean audit,
attention turned to best practices for oversight and
control of a school district budget. District administrators
placed this item on the agenda and invited the Board
to dialogue with Mr. Storch on the subject, partly
because of recent news stories involving at least
one Long Island school district where apparent illegalities
have occurred. To be sure that Byram Hills has best
practices in place to preclude such abuses, suggestions
were made by Greg Carlson (Assistant Superintendent
for Business & Management Services) and Mr. Storch
about oversight and control. Significant among these
best practices is the employment of an internal auditor-a
resident of the School District who serves as another
check and balance on all expenditures. The Board closed
the discussion by inviting public awareness on all
its financial practices.
Budget Planning
Taking the next step into a practical look ahead at
the Byram Hills' budget, the Board reviewed the charge
to their budget committee and administrators for development
of the 2005-06 budget proposal. Looking even further
ahead, Mr. Carlson reviewed the five-year budget tool
which the District uses to project its longer-term
expenditures. Elements in this plan include all the
major spending categories of the budget, from staffing
(the most significant single item) through debt service
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