Budget Preparation and Aid and Levy Worksheet Summary

The budget preparation process has been simplified immensely by the computerized program developed by Lisa Oakley from the Department of Management. Lisa has created a computerized budget program that allows each school district to utilize the template specific for their school district without having to re-enter many numbers that were submitted from the certified enrollment forms, school budget review approval and other sources. Lisa's e-mail is lisa.oakley@iowa.gov, and her telephone number is 515-281- 8485. Administrators should record Lisa's telephone number and e-mail address where it can be located for future reference.

The definitions below will make the following description more understandable.

Previous or Actual year is the school year which ended June 30, or just prior to the current year.

Current year is the school year operating in the present.

Budget year is the school year following the current year and represents the year you are certifying your budget.

Before beginning the budget process, the administrator should be sure to collect the following information:

1. The current year's Final Aid & Levy printout from the Department of Management. This would have been received by the district in June prior to the commencing of the current year.
2. The final certification of taxes from the Department of Management for the current year (received at the same time as the Final Aid & Levy printout). Three pages.
3. The Certified Annual Report from the previous school year.
4. The taxable valuation and tax increment financing valuation from each county auditor. Obtain a summary report from the Department of Management under "Property Valuation System—Reports." Choose the report "Taxable Valuation by Individual Levy Authority."
5. The special education deficit letter or positive balance information from the previous school year.
6. The latest Unspent Authority Report from the Department of Management.
7. Any debt schedules (bonds and interest), capital loan notes, and other loan agreement schedules.

The Department of Management provides instructions for working through the budget program and Aid and Levy worksheet.