This bill proposes significant updates to current statutes regarding school district budgeting by extending the planning horizon and enhancing transparency. Under current law, school district governing boards are required to prepare a budget for the fiscal year immediately following the current year. The bill would amend this requirement by mandating that the governing board prepare a budget for the next three fiscal years, and it would update the definition of budget year to include the next three fiscal years following the current year. Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for budget formats, including enrollment projections for each of the next three years, methods used for these projections, and the rate of change in student enrollment over the past five years. Moreover, the bill modifies the language regarding override authorizations for unified school districts, allowing requests for new authorizations for multiple budget years instead of just one. It clarifies that an approved override will replace any existing override for the granted budget years. The bill also adjusts definitions and procedures related to budget increases, specifying that if voters approve a budget increase, the existing one will no longer be in effect, and it allows for new budget increase requests under certain conditions. Overall, these changes aim to enhance financial planning, transparency, and flexibility in school district budgeting processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-448, 15-481, 15-901, 15-905, 15-915, 42-12003, 42-12001, 15-912.01, 15-482, 15-457, 15-458, 15-943, 16-204, 15-422, 15-423, 15-424, 15-426, 15-403, 15-947, 15-949, 15-971, 15-447, 15-901.08, 15-808, 15-447.01, 15-797, 15-816.01, 15-761, 15-902.04, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 15-944, 15-765, 15-751, 15-752, 15-753, 15-501, 15-771, 15-946, 15-945, 15-905.01, 38-502, 15-1102, 15-907, 15-916, 1988-1989, 1987-1988, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 15-255
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-448, 15-481, 15-901, 15-903, 15-905, 15-915, 42-12003, 42-12001, 15-912.01, 15-482, 15-457, 15-458, 15-943, 16-204, 15-422, 15-423, 15-424, 15-426, 15-403, 15-947, 15-949, 15-971, 15-447, 15-901.08, 15-808, 15-447.01, 15-797, 15-816.01, 15-761, 15-902.04, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 15-944, 15-765, 15-751, 15-752, 15-753, 15-501, 15-771, 15-946, 15-945, 15-905.01, 38-502, 15-1102, 15-907, 15-916, 1988-1989, 1987-1988, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 15-255