I know this is late but I only just registered. Critter, if you receive this note, please forward that sample budget to me as well. I am the new PTO pres. and we do not have a budget but we should certainly have one. (I am new at this)
thanks, sj

Critter,
I would appreciate it if you could email me that budget info also. This is our 3rd year as a 3-6 elementary school and next year will convert to 6-8 middle school. We still do not have a budget and really need to get one settled this year.

Thanks

Regarding emotions: I think we've been pretty successful avoiding turf wars over money. I attribute that to our practice of breaking our budget down into discrete categories. For example, we allocate $700 to "Educational Materials". That's a pretty open-ended title, but it's a capped amount, so no one person's pet project is going to consume a huge amount of our overall budget. Our largest single categories ($) are teacher reimbursements, assemblies, and field trip buses. Not too much question about how that money is used. Some might argue that our strict categorizing could limit our flexibility to do unexpected programming later in the year, but it hasn't really been an issue.

Regarding software - I use Quicken for transaction control and check reconciliation. I also use Excel because I like the report I can create in excel better than what I've been able to get out of Quicken. Basically, I have to duplicate all transactions in both excel and quicken - dumb idea I wouldn't necessarily recommend, but it works for me.

Wow Critter, that's exactly what I'm wondering about...that emotional aspect of the budget...people personally wanting things for their own agenda!!! HOW DO you avoid it. Please send me those ideas..I need help bad!! Another question...do you use software for your budget? quicken? what??/Thanks

Hi Flying Blind (and others) - I have something about budgeting that I will email to you, but you must register here first so I can send it on.

Critter

I just became treasurer of a HSA of a small Catholic School that as not been doing much of anything for several years. I can not seem I find any financial records of any kind from previous years. The only thing that I have been able to get is the balance of our account from our Parish secretary. I am going to have to set up a bookkeeping system from scratch. Do you or anyone else have any ideas for me? I would greatly appreciate any help.