Our fiscal year runs from Aug 1st to July 31st---We have our elections in April- new officers go for triaing in MAy and July--The treasurer balances the books at the end of July completley to get a startup balance for August 1. The new board meets in AUgust to prepare the budget. WE present the budget for vote to membership at our 1st meeting in September.

Our new officers put the new budget together in August, based on needs identified by the members the previous spring, plus all the actuals that we spent in our previous budget. The proposed budget is presented for approval at our first PTO meeting. Techincally, we cannot transact any business that affects money (including running a fundraiser or collecting dues)until our budget is approved.

Throughout the year, we might find we need to adjust budgets. Changes over $100 must be put to a vote of the membership.

When always do our budget for next school year no later than the end of April. We have to present it to the organization at our last meeting in May. We solicit the faculty for their needs via a form and set the rest based on what was spent during the present school year and any other major expenses we can forsee. I can't imagine not having our budget in place and approved when the new school year begins. This is all written in our bylaws as well. You might want to check yours. Hope I helped...

A wonderful idea! We have gotten better at selecting our fundraising events at our mid-summer meeting, but as we are in the process of updating our bylaws I am going to add it into the discussion notes.

A quick question -- This is my first year as PTO president and I was wondering when the rest of you prepare your budget for next year. Last year the former pto board did not approve the budget until October and this year we followed their lead. Next year it looks as if our current board will be back -- I would like to have next year's budget done before the end of the school year(it will make more sense because we have back to school expenses and our family picnic to purchase items for). Our by-laws do not mention the budget. Thanks!!