Annual Budgets

The development of a school budget is a structured and multi-step process that involves collaboration between school leadership, the school committee, and finally, the City Council.

 

The budget development process typically begins with both central office and building based administrators using the district strategy and district priorities to build the first iteration of the budget.  From there, the development of the preliminary budget happens in conjunction with input from the School Committee. 

 

In Amesbury, we often utilize two or three Finance and Facilities subcommittee “meetings of the whole” workshops to gather more guidance around priorities from the School Committee.  The Public Hearing on the budget occurs during the second or third week in March and allows the School Committee to hear the concerns, suggestions, and other relevant input from the community. 

 

Based on the feedback from the hearing, a final budget is created and presented to the School Committee for their approval.  Once the proposed budget is approved by the School Committee, it is given to the Mayor so that the Mayor can incorporate the schools’ budget into the overall city budget. 

 

In May, the Superintendent and the Director of Finance and Operations present the budget to the City Council.  In June, the City Council votes on the City’s budget which includes any revisions made to the proposed school budget by the City Council.