N.M. Code R. § 6.20.2.9 – Budget Preparation Standards

A. Every school district shall follow budget requirements stated in Sections 22-8-5 through 22-8-12.2, NMSA 1978, and procedures of the department in preparing, submitting, maintaining and reporting budgetary information. Budgetary control shall be at the function level. Over-expenditure of a function shall not be allowed.
B. The proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year shall be submitted to the department by April 15 of each year unless extended to a later date by the secretary of education.
C. The department shall review the school district’s projected revenues, including estimated tax production based on the most current assessed valuation from the local taxing authority and estimated cash carryover for all funds. The department shall confer with the school district before determining where additions or reductions to the budget will be incorporated.
D. Approval of the proposed budget by the local board shall be in a public hearing held prior to June 20. The notice of public hearing for the adoption of the budget shall be published in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, Section 10-15-1 et seq. 1978, Public School Code, and local board policy. Certification of the proposed budget by the department shall be on or before July 1. The approved and certified budget then constitutes the operating budget.
E. On or before July 31, school districts shall determine their actual cash balances in all funds and report them on the most current form prescribed by the department. The operational subfund cash balance shall be adjusted by the amount of June credits for revenues received in that month from local school tax levy federal impact aid, and federal forest reserve, if any. The June credits shall be categorized as restricted cash balance and are unavailable for budgeting in the ensuing fiscal year. Cash balance carried forward from the previous fiscal year in the operational subfund shall not be used for salaries and benefits.
F. The operating budget and any authorized adjustments, shall be integrated into the school district’s accounting system after required approvals. Encumbrances shall be used as an element of control and integrated into the budget system.
[12/08/1989, 2/03/1993, 11/01/1997, 1/15/1999, 9/15/1999; 6.20.2.9 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 2.2.1.9, 5/31/2001; A, 11/30/2006]