- Norman Public Schools
- School Finance 101
NPS Finance
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The Norman Public School District is committed to being exemplary, conservative stewards of the taxpayers' funds and operating with the highest level of transparency. The district is a two-time winner of the state's Excellence in Annual Financial Reporting Award for schools. Brenda O'Brian leads the department and has also served as the Association of School Business Officials International President.
NPS Financial Services, 405.366.5801
Brenda O'Brian, CPA, SFO, Chief Financial Officer
Janine Warren, Coordinator, Accounting/Accounts Payable
TBD, Director of Finance
Cameron Cox, Director of Purchasing
School Finance 101
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Understanding school finance is often difficult. "School Finance 101" provides information about revenues, expenditures, and the impact of State Funding on the district's budget.
Funding Sources/Uses
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GENERAL FUND: Local and county taxes*, state aid, dedicated state revenue, federal program reimbursement, other reimbursements.
Uses: Payroll, transportation, supplies, materials, furniture, equipment, textbooks, general operating expenses.*Periodically, we have the opportunity to receive tax increment financing, or TIF. This property tax revenue is not a deduct from state aid, while local ad valorem property tax is.
BUILDING FUND: Local and county taxes.
Uses: Repair and maintenance of facilities, furniture, equipment, utilities, custodialCHILD NUTRITION FUND: Student and staff lunch purchases, state and federal reimbursements.
Uses: Food, payroll, supplies and equipment.BOND FUNDS: Sale of bonds after voter approval.
Uses: Construction projects, furniture, equipment, uniforms, textbooks, school buses, etc.ACTIVITY FUNDS: Student activities, fundraisers, vending commissions, donations
Uses: Student activities, supplies, materials, equipment, refreshments.SINKING FUND: Local taxes after voter approval of bonds.
Uses: Bond principal and interest payments
GIFT FUND: Restricted grants from privates sources.
Uses: As specified in grant.SANCTIONED PARENT GROUPS (not district money): Fundraisers, donations, dues.
Uses: Support of student and school activities (wider latitude than activity fund).
What is a Fund Balance?
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FUND BALANCE
The "unencumbered" or "available" balance of funds at the end of a fiscal year. This is also referred to as a carryover or surplus.
WHY IS A FUND BALANCE NECESSARY?
- To pay operating expenses during the first half of the year before the majority of ad valorem taxes are collected.
- To meet any unanticipated expenses.
- To help fund budgets if planned expenditures exceed anticipated revenues (e.g. funding cliff when one-time revenue sources are not replaced or operating expenses are anticipated to increase for reasons such as a new school opening).
District Revenue Limitations
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- Any growth in local taxes is deducted from state aid.
- Any growth in dedicated state revenue (e.g. motor vehicle collections, gross production tax, school land earnings) is deducted from state aid.
- Grants and donations are usually specific in purpose and are not intended for operating expenses.
- Money from other funds (e.g. building fund, child nutrition fund, bond funds) is restricted in the ways it can be spent.
Legal Borrowing Methods
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- Non-payable warrants
- Short-term cash flow solution
- Similar to overdraft protection
- Lease-purchase agreements
- lease which transfers ownership of asset at end of term
- Bonds
- Requires 60% approval by voters
- Restricted to capital expenditures
- At least 85% of proceeds must be spent on projects listed in the bond resolution approved by voters
- Bond proceeds and interest earnings CANNOT be used to pay salaries, benefits or related costs
- Non-payable warrants