Goal Driven Budgets

     The definition of a goal driven budget is inherently defined in the terms itself, when reading the words.  Simply put, it is a budget based on a goal.  For school districts it means so much more.  It is the development of the district and campus budgets with the purpose of attaining the district vision and achieving the district’s mission. I agree with Dr. Arterbury’s statement that the budgeting process is a part of the total planning process of the school district.  Clearly defined goals for the district and each campus are the logical starting places for the development of their budgets.  Each goal developed requires careful planning and involves the identification of needed resources to achieve the desired results.  The goal driven budgeting process helps to maintain fiscal responsibility from year to year with the changing dollar amounts received by school districts.  With approaching reported economic hardships for educational funding in Texas it is now more important than ever before for districts to prepare budgets that do not exhaust fund balances yet still maintains the higher standards our communities have come to expect from our school districts. 

     School districts have been building budgets since the beginning of public education.  I am fortunate to be in a school district that supports the idea of a balanced school district budget and promotes fiscal responsibility.  Reviewing the Port Neches-Groves ISD District Improvement Plan we have seven clearly established goals.  Each goal has objectives that are followed by several components describing how to achieve the goal.  The components are initiatives, strategies, or activities, person responsible, timeline, resources, and evaluation.  The plan establishes where the resources are coming from in order to implement the initiatives, strategies, or activities for reaching the goal. In other words, where does the money come from to pay for and to implement the processes outline to attain the district goals.  The funding sources are from local, state, federal, ARRA, Title, and personal funds.  As funding sources are lowered or no longer available, budgets need to be adjusted annually to accommodate for these types of changes.  Through the development of my district and campus improvement plans by the different committees, as our goals change, the allocation of resources correspondingly changes.  Dr. Arterbury stated, “The District Improvement Plan and the Campus Improvement Plans should reflect the goals of the Board of Trustees.”  The Port Neches-Groves District Education Improvement Plan does adhere to the goals of our Board of Trustees.

     The suggestion from Dr. Arterbury that campus plans and goals should be a version of the vision is apparent for PN-G ISD.  Our campus plans reflect the goals established by our School Board.  Our budgeting process is driven to achieve our district vision and accomplish our district mission of a commitment to excellence in education and to provide a learning environment that ensures opportunities for all students to pursue lifelong learning and responsible, productive citizenship.