I'm trying to finalize our budget now for the first time ever and you can imagine I'm not the most popular person in school. I started by looking at last year's spending since most expenses are repetive in nature (field trips, speakers, etc) from one year to the next. After determining the categories (educational support, faculty support, family gatherings, etc.) I assigned percentages to each (educational must be at least 50% of the budget)so that we could discuss in general how we want our dollars/time/efforts spent. It's painful the first time but I think when we're done we'll all feel more in control as opposed to feeling like unpaid labor that does all the work with no say. Good idea to start this topic. We meet again Wed night for hopefully the last time. Wish me luck - I need it!
WCE - In our PTO, we would vote as a group at a monthly on the request from the cooks or janitors for money from our "Building Extras" budget, for example. We also work closely with the principal who helps define the "real" needs; but it's our members who have the final say.
As part of our budget, we just have a line item for "Purchases for School." We poll teachers and staff for their wish lists and then approve items off of that. My question is this: Do you have set guidelines for determining how to spend money on purchases for school? For instance, what if the cooks asked for something for the kitchen? Or janitors requested tools, etc? This hasn't really been a problem, but I feel it is something we need to address. That way, there are no hard feelings if a request is denied that doesn't fall within the parameters we have set.
I would LOVE to have a budget ready to have the members appove but I'm still looking for officers!!!! UGHHGGGG!!
We need one too but the VP and I decided if we just do it now there will be to much heat in the kitchen!
Our By-Laws state we can spend $50 before we need approval! I really want to get that changed to $100 but might wait a bit.
I have read so many postings here that relate to the lack of a budget for the PTO. It seems that we need a specific discussion thread on the subject of setting up an annual budget, so I am starting this topic.
Some information to get this rolling...
Our Exec Bd is currently finalizing our proposed annual budget which will be presented to our members for approval at our first meeting next week. Our budget defines exactly where we expect the money to come from, how much we plan to earn, and then specifically how we plan to spend it. Our spending plan includes some general categories (ex: Educational Materials)from which the teachers make requests for specific items. We also have very specific categories such as Yearbook Company which clearly defines our need to pay that future bill.
Our Bylaws stipulate that the Exec Bd can spend up to $100 within the limits of the budget plan, without a vote of the members. That way, we can approve a mid-month request to buy flowers from the landscaping budget, for example, without waiting to have a vote. Any changes to the annual budget, or spending requests above $100 must be approved by the members.
I could go on and on, but I really just wanted to kick off this topic. Any takers?
