City Schools Discuss Budget Committee, Fund Balance
BY BRIAN JONES brian.jones@packet-media.com COLUMBUS – At its Dec. 12 meeting, the Columbus Municipal School Board discussed a proposed budget advisory committee and the current fund balance. At a previous meeting Trustee Jason Spears asked that the district establish a budget advisory committee to work with the board as it goes through the yearly budget process. He presented a committee charter to the board Monday night. Spears’ plan called for the committee, which had no voting or enforcement power, to meet once a month. Each trustee would appoint one member, and each member would be paid $20 per hour, not to exceed $40 per month. The committee would receive current budget information and would evaluate past budget trends, and then “offer recommendations, insights and factual findings to the CMSD for consideration.” Meetings would be held monthly between February and May. Budget hearings are typically held in the last summer. Board Attorney David Dunn said that he had reviewed Spears’ proposal and had some concerns with some items, especially the compensation. “I have found no authority in attorney general’s opinions or statutory opinions for payment to an advisory committee,” he said. “I would recommend that you allow me to request an AG’s opinion on that to see if compensation can be paid. There is an opinion or two that indicates that expenses can be covered, but there is no clear...
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