41-000   
 
BOT 09-20-07
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF BUDGETS (POLICY) 

The budget process is a continuous process worked on by all budget managers throughout 
the year. In August after all the staff returns, Budgets for the next fiscal year are 
submitted to administration for consideration. 
 
The President shall request budgets from the department heads and district directors for 
the upcoming year no later than five (5) days after all personnel have come back on 
contract.  
 
The budget estimates shall show the amount of funds required for each major cost 
element (e.g. salaries, supplies, equipment, etc.).
 
The college President, with the assistance of the Vice Presidents, will consolidate the 
individual department and district budgets into a preliminary budget. This budget is 
reviewed and revised so as not to exceed the anticipated funding generated by federal and 
state grants and contracts, endowment funds, tuition, donations and other revenue.  The 
BOT Finance Committee will submit the proposed budget to the Board of Trustees no 
later than September 30th.
 
The budget shall not exceed the anticipated funding generated by federal and state grants 
and contracts, endowment funds, tuition, donations and any carry over from previous 
years.
 
The Board of Trustees shall review the proposed budget, make any necessary revisions, 
and adopt the final budget no later than September 30th.
 
Upon approval of the budget by the Board of Trustees, the budgeted amounts shall be 
entered into the accounting records of all departments and districts.  The accounting 
records shall allow for the recording of the amounts authorized for each individual 
classification along with actual amounts expended and budget balances for both current 
month and year-to-date totals.  Monthly reports shall be prepared and submitted to the 
department heads, Vice Presidents and the President.  
 
While the President has the overall responsibility to ensure compliance with budget 
limitations, individual Vice Presidents, Department Heads, and directors are responsible 
for adhering to their approved budgets.  The Vice President of Business or Vice President 
of Business designee shall provide any information needed to assist them in adhering to 
budget information.
 
The Vice President of Business shall notify the responsible individual and the President 
when it appears necessary to curtail or adjust program operations to avoid expenditures in 
excess of budget authorizations.  The department heads or project directors are 
responsible for the preparation of program modification requests.  These are to be 
approved by the President before submission to the appropriate agency.
 
The department heads or project directors, after consultation with the appropriate Vice 
President and the President, are allowed to make adjustments to their budgets up to 10% 
of their major budget items but cannot exceed their total department budget.  Salaries and 
fringe from PL-471 funds cannot be re-budgeted to other line items without the 
President's permission.  Budget modifications can be submitted to the appropriate agency 
within federal guidelines upon receiving approval by the President.  Any budget 
modifications deemed necessary by the President to maximize utilization of available 
funds shall not be made without consultation with the person(s) responsible for items 
affected.
 
The appropriate vice president or the President may suspend department heads or district 
directors, exceeding their budgets to the extent of jeopardizing the financial affairs of the 
department or program, until the matter can be presented to the Board at the next 
meeting. In addition, the divisional vice presidents are subject to appropriate disciplinary 
action by the President for gross negligence in maintaining budget control.  The President 
is responsible to the board for overall budget execution and control and is subject to 
disciplinary action by them for failure to properly execute and control.
 
All requisitions requiring expenditures from the general fund shall be submitted to the 
business office for verification that sufficient funds remain in the designated account to 
cover the requested purchase.  Department heads, district directors, and project managers 
should maintain a cuff account to estimate available funds remaining in line item 
accounts.  Written approval must be signed by the requesting person, the budget manager, 
the Division head, and the fiscal office.
 
Any requisition that would cause overspending in an account shall be returned to the 
originator for revision or cancellation.