NPS Finance

  • The Norman Public School District is committed to being exemplary, conservative stewards of the taxpayers' funds and operating with the highest level of transparency. The district is a two-time winner of the state's Excellence in Annual Financial Reporting Award for schools. Brenda Burkett leads the department and has also served as the Association of School Business Officials International President. 

    NPS Financial Services, 405.366.5801

    Brenda Burkett, CPA, SFO, Chief Financial Officer

    Janine Warren, Coordinator, Accounting/Accounts Payable

    Matt Gindhart, Director of Finance

    Cameron Cox, Director of Purchasing

School Finance 101

  • Understanding school finance is often difficult. "School Finance 101" provides information about revenues, expenditures, and the impact of State Funding on the district's budget.

    School Finance 101 

    Funds that are appropriated by the State Legislature to support education are referred to as state aid. The amount of state aid a district qualifies for is based primarily on student headcount and attendance, with a few other factors weighed into the calculation, such as the number of students with special needs, or those who are bilingual, gifted or economically disadvantaged. For many districts, state aid represents a large portion of the overall budget. 

Revenue Sources

  •  General Fund Revenue Sources Graph

     

    Local + county sources (29% combined)

     Primarily property taxes, also includes:

    • Investment and rental income
    • Local grants and partnerships

    Federal sources (10%)

    • CARES funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Two additional federal allocations intended for preparing, preventing and responding to COVID-19 are expected in FY21 and FY22
    • Title I (Every Student Succeeds Act)
    • IDEA (Special Ed)

    Other (2%)

    • Reimbursements/Transfers from other funds:
      • Activity fun for lost books, parking fees, etc.
      • Payroll, postage, printing reimbursements

    State Dedicated (18%)

    State dedicated

    • Gross production tax
    • Motor vehicle tax
    • School land earnings
    • Rural electric cooperative tax

    State line items

    • Textbook allocation
    • Employee health insurance
    • Specific state programs and reform measures

    State Aid (41%)

    • Formula funding based on number of students

     

     

State Aid

  • State Aid Calculation Graphic

COVID-19: Impact on Education

    • March 2020 - OK State Board of Education voted for school buildings to be closed to students and the public; districts moved to remote learning for the remainder of 2019-20 school year.
    • NPS financial resources were used to purchase additional sanitization supplies, disinfection equipment, PPE, temperature monitoring devices, and social-distance barriers.
    • NPS financial resources were used to secure technology items that were needed to implement district-wide remote learning.
    • Continued Child Nutrition feeding program for all families during Pandemic with flexible Federal guidelines in place.
    • Federal funds for COVID-19 relief became available to schools June 2020.
    • School Year 2020-21 - NPS accommodating families' choice for traditional, blended, or remote learning options.

How Each Dollar Is Spent

  • How Each Dollar of the General Fund Is Spent Graphic

Timeline

  • Budget and Funding Timeline
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Funding Sources/Uses

  • GENERAL FUND: Local and county taxes, state aid, dedicated state revenue, federal program reimbursement, other reimbursements.
    Uses: Payroll, transportation, supplies, materials, furniture, equipment, textbooks, general operating expenses.

    BUILDING FUND: Local and county taxes.
    Uses: Repair and maintenance of facilities, furniture, equipment, utilities, custodial

    CHILD NUTRITION FUND: Student and staff lunch purchases, state and federal reimbursements.
    Uses: Food, payroll, supplies and equipment.

    BOND FUNDS: Sale of bonds after voter approval.
    Uses: Construction projects, furniture, equipment, uniforms, textbooks, school buses, etc.

    ACTIVITY FUNDS: Student activities, fundraisers, vending commissions, donations
    Uses: Student activities, supplies, materials, equipment, refreshments.

    SINKING FUND: Local taxes after voter approval of bonds.
    Uses: Bond principal and interest payments

    GIFT FUND: Restricted grants from privates sources.
    Uses: As specified in grant.

    SANCTIONED PARENT GROUPS (not district money): Fundraisers, donations, dues.
    Uses: Support of student and school activities (wider latitude than activity fund).

What is a Fund Balance?

  • FUND BALANCE

    The "unencumbered" or "available" balance of funds at the end of a fiscal year. This is also referred to as a carryover or surplus.

    WHY IS A FUND BALANCE NECESSARY?

    1. To pay operating expenses during the first half of the year before the majority of ad valorem taxes are collected.
    2. To meet any unanticipated expenses.
    3. To help fund budgets if planned expenditures exceed anticipated revenues (e.g. funding cliff when one-time revenue sources are not replaced or operating expenses are anticipated to increase for reasons such as a new school opening).

District Revenue Limitations

    • Any growth in local taxes is deducted from state aid.
    • Any growth in dedicated state revenue (e.g. motor vehicle collections, gross production tax, school land earnings) is deducted from state aid.
    • Grants and donations are usually specific in purpose and are not intended for operating expenses.
    • Money from other funds (e.g. building fund, child nutrition fund, bond funds) is restricted in the ways it can be spent.

Legal Borrowing Methods

    1. Non-payable warrants
      1. Short-term cash flow solution
      2. Similar to overdraft protection
    2. Lease-purchase agreements
      1. lease which transfers ownership of asset at end of term
    3. Bonds
      1. Requires 60% approval by voters
      2. Restricted to capital expenditures
      3. At least 85% of proceeds must be spent on projects listed in the bond resolution approved by voters
      4. Bond proceeds and interest earnings CANNOT be used to pay salaries, benefits or related costs