:confused: As a newly established PTO and president, I am trying to figure out how to run our program. I want to create structure and procedures for the longevity of it and have a PTO in the future that will outlive my involvement. However, starting from scratch has been nothing short of mind numbing. I know that June is not a good month to be having meetings and doing budgets but we just established in March and have been working our way into it. What I have decided to do is announce a budget meeting during our next meeting. Anyone that has a request for the PTO for next year can come and have a few minutes to give their proposal/request and submit some supporting estimates. Following this then a budget would be decided. The school has operated for so long without a PTO fund they are really not asking much of us at this time so basically these would be teachers and possibly parents with their opinions/wants/needs. Has anyone done this before? Have I opened a big can of worms for myself? The other issue is who then ultimately decides on the budget? So far we have just done a majority rules and if you're at the meeting when we vote, you get a vote. It has been pretty casual. I did say up front at our first meeting that I planned on running votes majority rules and if there is ever a conflict the board members would decide. I don't know how to decide on a budget though. Should this be board members only voting and in a closed meeting once we hear all proposals....or should it be majority rules for all those who attend the next meeting. I don't want this to end in mass chaos but we definitely need goals and a budget for the next year. Also, I have been trying to figure out from past posts how other PTOs operate. do you set a budget then raise the funds to pay for this budget or do you raise funds the year before and then determine how to spend the money the next year. Do you clear out the bank account at the end of the year or do you hold onto money for the next. SOOOOOOO many questions and so little time! :eek: