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Citizen Finance Committee

At the request of the District 622 School Board, a Citizens Finance Committee was formed in 2003 to participate in the district's budget planning process. Members provide input to the School Board and administration as it prepares its annual budget. Below is the committee's charge statement.


District 622 Citizen Finance Committee Charge Statement

Purpose:
The purpose of the Citizen Finance Committee (CFC) shall be to:

  1. Ensure active community participation in and enhance community understanding of the District's budget planning process, and
  2. Provide input to the Board and administration on budget plans that support District and Board goals, policies and initiatives. 

Scope of responsibilities:

  1. The CFC shall provide the Board and administration with input on:
    1. Spending priorities and effective utilization of the District's limited financial resources,
    2. Cost effectiveness of programs and services,
    3. Ways to decrease expenditures and increase revenue, and
    4. Short-term and long-term financial planning.
  2. The CFC shall review long-range financial planning.
  3. The CFC shall study and provide input on specific financial issues or areas of the budget, as identified by the CFC, the School Board or the administration. 

Level of authority:
Advisory to the Superintendent.

Communication linkages:

  1. CFC meetings will be publicized in District publications and website and area newspapers.
  2. CFC meetings will be open to the public. The CFC chair or co-chair may, at his or her discretion, permit members of the public to address the committee.
  3. Minutes to be kept and shared with School Board. 

Timeline:
The CFC will hold at least four meetings each year, as determined by the members.

Resources available:

  1. Various budget managers and decision makers for consultations or presentations
  2. Clerical support in publishing and distributing minutes and summaries

Expectations of membership:

  1. Members are to attend at least 75 percent of CFC meetings each year.
  2. A member who has not shown suitable commitment or who isn't able to fulfill their commitment may resign or may be asked to resign by the CFC. A member with three consecutive absences who has not contacted the District or the CFC chair or co-chair about the absences will be considered to have resigned from the CFC and will be so notified by the chair or co-chair. The vacant position will then be filled in accordance with section E below (CFC membership). 

CFC membership:

  1. The CFC will be composed of 12 people who shall be stakeholders in the School District (a District resident, the parent or guardian of a District student, or a District employee.) The following guidelines shall be used:
    1. At least seven members must be parents/guardians or other community residents;
    2. A District employee who is a District resident may not also count as a parent/guardian or community resident;
    3. One District principal;
    4. One District teacher;
    5. One District support staff;
    6. At least one member must have a school-age child or children;
    7. An interest in financial issues as they affect the District;
    8. A strong background in finance, business, communications, or human resources.
  2. The District's Director of Business Services and one School Board member shall serve as ex-officio members of the CFC.
  3. Terms of office shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30.
    1. Terms of office shall last for three years, and shall be staggered with one-third of the positions up each year.
    2. After the committee is formed the first open term shall be July 1, 2004.
  4. Selection of Members
    1. Openings on the CFC will be advertised in District publications and area newspapers, and with local community and business organizations, and applications will be accepted until March 14 for terms beginning the following July 1. Applicant recruitment may take place beginning the following July 1. Applicant recruitment may take place after March 14 until as late as June 1 for openings for which there are no applicants meeting the guidelines in section A above.
    2. After March 14, the School Board representative and Director Business Services will receive and review all CFC applications and, based on the membership criteria described above, meet to review and prioritize candidates.
    3. The School Board representative will meet with the Director of Business Services and make recommendations for CFC membership to the School Board.
    4. The School Board will be asked to approve members in April.
  5. Filling Unexpired Terms
    1. If less than one year of the term remains, the position will remain open until the next regular time for seeking new members (see section C above.)
    2. If more than one year of the term remains, the School Board representative and the Director of Business Services will review the most recent round of applications and make a recommendation for membership to the Board of Education for final approval. If no applicant is available to complete that term among the applications, the School Board representative and the Director of Business Services will request applications from people representing the appropriate group(s) and then proceed as described above.
  6. At its first meeting each year, the CFC will elect officers, including a chair and a vice-chair, or co-chair from the committee.
    1. The chair or co-chair shall preside at all meetings.
    2. The vice chair, if the CFC chooses to elect one, shall perform the duties of the chair in the absence of the chair.
    3. The Director of Business Services shall ensure that minutes are taken at each meeting and a copy kept in District records.
  7. Initial Formation
    1. The School Board will set a two-week time period for people to submit applications.
    2. Applications will be reviewed, and the Director of Business Services and the School Board representative will recommend membership to the School Board.
    3. The CFC's initial charge will be to:
    a) Review the District's budget and budget projections,
    b) Gather input on and discuss District budget priorities, in light of limited financial resources, and
    c) Then, perform duties as outlined in above.

    Approved by School Board January 28, 2003

Citizen Finance Committee

List of Members

Meeting Minutes

Application for membership
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