701 Financial Accounting System

701 Financial Accounting System admin@iowascho… Thu, 11/29/2012 - 11:10

701.01 Depository of Funds

701.01 Depository of Funds

Each year at its annual meeting, the board shall designate by resolution the name and location of the Iowa located financial depository institution or institutions to serve as the official school district depository or depositories.  The board will also designate the maximum amount which may be kept on deposit in each bank.  This amount will be designated the first time a new depository is identified, and will be reviewed at least once every 5 years or when an increase or additional depository is needed. The amount stated in the resolution must be for all depositories and include all of the school district's funds.

It shall be the responsibility of the board secretary to include the resolution in the minutes of the meeting.

 Legal Reference:    Iowa Code §§ 12C; 279.33 (1995). 

 

 Cross Reference:    210.1  Annual Meeting  

                                206.4  Treasurer

                                704.1  Local - State - Federal - Miscellaneous Revenue

 

Approved 10/20/11     Reviewed  11/16/22              Revised   7-17-24            

ddvorak@northl… Wed, 03/22/2017 - 10:34

701.02 Transfer of Funds

701.02 Transfer of Funds

 

When the necessity for a fund has ceased to exist, the balance may be transferred to another fund or account by board resolution. School district monies received without a designated purpose may be transferred in this manner. School district monies received for a specific purpose or upon vote of the people may only be transferred, by board resolution when the purpose for which the monies were received has been completed.  Voter approval is required to transfer monies to the general fund from the capital projects fund and debt service fund.

If all requirements for district use of funds calculated under the teacher leadership supplement are met and funds remain unexpended and unobligated at the end of the fiscal year, the district may transfer all or a portion of remaining funds into the district’s flexibility account in accordance with law.

Beginning in FY 2024, unexpended and unobligated dollars that remain at the end of a fiscal year in addition to ongoing revenues may be transferred to the Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS) program from Professional Development Supplement (PDS), Talented and Gifted (TAG), and Teacher Leadership Supplement (TLS) without board action.

The district may choose to request approval from the School Budget Review Committee to transfer funds to make a program whole, prior to its elimination. 

Temporary transfers (loans) of funds are permitted between funds but must be repaid to the originating fund, with interest, by Oct. 1 following the end of the fiscal year. 

It is the responsibility of the board secretary to make recommendations to the board regarding transfers and to provide the documentation justifying the transfer.

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 24.21-.22; 257.10, 279.8; 279.42; 298A. 289 I.A.C. 6

Cross Reference:    703  Budget

 

Approved 10/20/11     Reviewed  11/16/22              Revised   7-17-24          

ddvorak@northl… Wed, 03/22/2017 - 10:41

701.03 Financial Records

701.03 Financial Records
Financial records of the school district are maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as required or modified by law.  School district monies are received and expended from the appropriate fund and/or account.  The funds and accounts of the school district will include, but not be limited to:

Governmental fund type:

      ·    General fund

      ·    Special revenue fund

                  --Management Levy fund

                  --Public Education and Recreation Levy fund (PERL)

                  --Student activity fund

      ·    Capital projects fund

                  --Physical Plant and Equipment Levy fund (PPEL)

                  --Secure and Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE)

      ·    Debt service fund

Proprietary fund type:

      ·    Enterprise fund

                  --School nutrition fund

                  --Child care fund

       
Fiduciary funds:

      ·    Trust

                  --Expendable trust funds

                  --Nonexpendable trust funds

                  --Pension trust funds

      ·    Agency Funds

Account groups:

      ·    General capital assets account group

      ·    General long-term debt account group

The board may establish other funds in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and may certify other taxes to be levied for the funds as provided by state law.  The status of each fund must be included in the annual report.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to implement this policy and bring necessary changes in the maintenance of the school district's financial records to the attention of the board.

 

Legal Reference:           Iowa Code §§291; 298; 298A.  281 I.A.C. 98

                             

 

I.C. Iowa Code

Description

   

Iowa Code  § 291

Board Officers

Iowa Code  § 298A

School District Fund Structure

I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code

Description

281 I.A.C. 98

Education - Categorical Funding

Cross References

Code

Description

701.02

Transfer of Funds

701.04

Governmental Accounting Practices & Regulations

802.04

Capital Assets

802.04-R(1)

Capital Assets  - Regulation

802.04-R(2)

Capital Assets  - Management System Definitions

 

Approved 10/20/11     Reviewed  7-17-24              Revised  7-17-24                       

ddvorak@northl… Mon, 04/16/2018 - 09:01

701.04 Government Accounting Practices and Regulations

701.04 Government Accounting Practices and Regulations

School district accounting practices will follow state and federal laws and regulations, generally accepted account principles (GAAP) and the uniform financial accounting system provided by the Iowa Department of Education.  As advised by the school district's auditor, determination of liabilities and assets, prioritization of expenditures of governmental funds and provision for accounting disclosures shall be made in accordance with governmental accounting standards.

In Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement No. 54, the board identifies the order of spending unrestricted resources applying the hightest level of classification of fund balance - restricted, committed, assigned, and unassigned - while honoring constraints on the specific purposes for which amounts in those fund balances can be spent.  A formal board action is required to establish, modify and or rescind a committed fund balance,  The resolution will state the exact dollar amount.  In the event, the board chooses to make changes or rescind the committed fund balance, formal board action is required.

The Board authorizes the superintendent and board secretary to assign amounts to a specific purpose in compliance with GASB 54,  An 'assigned fund balance' should be reported in the order of spending unrestricted  resources, but is not restricted or committed.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations implementing this policy.  It is also the responsibility of the superintendent to make recommendations to the board regarding fund balance designations.

 

 

Legal Reference:           Iowa Code §§ 257.31(4); 279.8; 297.22-.25; 298A (2013)

                                

Cross Reference:           701.3       Financial Records

                                       703          Budget

                                       704          Revenue

 

 

Approved 10/20/11     Reviewed  11/16/22              Revised  7-17-24                       

ddvorak@northl… Mon, 04/16/2018 - 09:02

701.05 Fiscal Management

701.05 Fiscal Management

The Board recognizes its fiduciary responsibility to oversee the management of school district funds in keeping with the school district vision, mission and goals.  To achieve this purpose, the board may engage in learning about the financial needs, operations and requirements of the school district as appropriate for the board’s understanding of the district’s financial position.  The Board also commits to engaging in annual financial goal setting for the district based upon measurable data and projections for the school district.

Monthly, the Superintendent, in coordination with the Treasurer, will provide the board with accurate reports showing the receipts, disbursements, and balances for each fund, cashflow needs, the investment portfolio, and any other reports showing the financial condition of the school district.  After the fiscal year has closed, the Superintendent, in coordination with the Treasurer, will provide to the Board concise, timely, well organized financial data for that fiscal year.  The Board will exercise its oversight responsibilities by reviewing relevant PK-12 public education sector indicators to understand the financial trends of the district.  

The Board will establish and review financial goals and fiscal management performance measures annually and publish in the minutes.  The District will measure whether these goals were obtained as of June 30, but only after completion of the Certified Annual Report due September 15th each year.

Providing the best possible educational experience for all students and meeting federal, state, and local academic goals for each student requires maximizing General Fund resources for use in the instructional program. The board may request from the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) additional modified spending authority (MSA) where it may be available for items such as:

  • Special education deficit balances

  • Advances to support increasing student enrollment

  • Supports for students identified as English Learners

  • At risk / dropout prevention programming

  • Initial staffing associated with opening new buildings or programs

  • Any other lawful purpose

Any award of modified supplement amount will be levied as a cash reserve based on the recommendation of the Superintendent in coordination with the Treasurer  and approved by the Board of Directors, consistent with its annual financial goals and the fiscal management performance measures.

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 257.7, 31; 279.8

Approved 10/21/26       Reviewed                Revised    

ddvorak@northl… Thu, 10/22/2026 - 12:56

701.05R1 Fiscal Management - Financial Metrics

701.05R1 Fiscal Management - Financial Metrics

The following relevant PK-12 public sector indicators will be provided to the Board annually to better understand the financial trends of the district.  These indicators will be an accurate depiction as of June 30th of the preceding fiscal year and will depict at a minimum of five years of data.  

  • Total revenues and expenditures by fund and major sources; 

  • Financial Solvency Ratio - assigned plus unassigned fund balances divided by total revenue minus AEA flow through;

  • Unspent Authorized Budget Ratio - amount of maximum spending authority left at year end after deducting the general fund expenditures incurred during the year;

  • Unspent Authorized Balance Ratio Net of Restricted Fund Balances (Categorical Fund Balances) - amount of maximum spending authority left at year end after deducting both the general fund expenditures incurred during the year and the total restricted fund balances (categorical fund balances) at year end;

  • Enrollment Trend - funding follows the student so it is important to understand district enrollment numbers;

  • Staff costs as a percent of total general fund. 

Financial Projections

Five-year financial projections of the general fund will be prepared and updated annually. The general fund is the operating fund of the district where the majority of salaries and benefits are funded.  Projections will help the board determine sustainability of the annual operating budget and help make future budgetary decisions.

The District is committed to utilizing the following financial metrics in determining district financial goals:

  1. Unspent Authorized Budget Ratio:  Maintain unspent authorized budget ratio within the 5-15% target range. The current year’s projected balance will be discussed with the Board before staffing and other spending decisions are finalized for the succeeding year.

  2. Unspent Authorized Budget Net of Restricted Fund Balances (Categorical Balances): Maintain unspent authorized budget ratio net of restricted fund balances (categorical balances) within the 5-15% target range. The district will attempt to spend the restricted (categorical) annual allocation in the year received to the extent possible.

  3. Solvency Ratio: Maintain an unrestricted, uncommitted general fund balance within the 15-25% target range with 20% being a minimum goal.  The current year’s projected balance will be discussed with the Board before establishing the succeeding year’s cash reserve levy and before staffing and other spending decisions are finalized.

  4. The District will take reasonable steps to achieve a total general fund balance at least equal to its unspent authority.  This enables the District to cash flow its legal spending limit.

 

I.C. Iowa Code Description

Iowa Code § 257.31 Finance Program - Committee

Iowa Code § 279.8 Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees

Iowa Code § 257.7 Authorized Expenditures

 

Cross References

 

Code Description

705.05 Federal Awards Compliance

                  

Approved 10/21/26       Reviewed                Revised    

ddvorak@northl… Thu, 10/22/2026 - 13:04