School Budget and Finances

It is often said that the annual school budget is the financial expression of your district’s educational goals and aspirations. It also reflects the district’s financial resources and how they will be utilized, is a plan for controlling the level and type of spending in your schools during the year and is a consensus document that reflects the input of your administration, board and community.  

A comprehensive understanding of school finance and the budget process empowers board of education members to make informed, strategic decisions that support the educational mission of the district while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

School finance is the backbone of every effective educational program, and a challenge for almost every board member.”

– “Fundamentals of School Board Membership”

School Finance

Below are some of the resources that NJSBA has developed to help board members better understand school finance and budgets.

Related Resources: Videos, Webinars and Podcasts

Check out some of the more popular multimedia resources on this topic.

Illustration of a man sitting down at a desk in front of video window tiles with the text NJSBA Webinars.

The Board’s Role in the Budget Process

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More videos that discuss school budgets and finance: