The proposed bill would update current statutes regarding school district budgeting by redefining the term "budget year" to include a fiscal year that is one of the three years following the current year, rather than just the immediate next fiscal year. This change aims to facilitate longer-term financial planning for school districts. Additionally, the bill mandates that governing boards prepare budgets for the next three fiscal years and include enrollment projections for those years, as well as the rate of change in student enrollment over the past five years. The Auditor General is also required to incorporate these enrollment metrics into the budget summary.

Moreover, the bill introduces new provisions allowing unified school districts to request override authorization for one or more budget years, replacing the need for separate authorizations for each budget year. It clarifies the maximum budget increases that can be requested and authorized, ensuring these limits apply to any budget year, and emphasizes that voter-approved additional budget increases will be included in the aggregate budget limit for each authorized year. Overall, these updates aim to enhance the budgeting process and provide clearer guidelines for financial planning and voter approval.

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