[pennysue]

Is there a dollar amount legally that prior PTO boards must leave for the new pto board? We have ALWAYS carried over 2000.00 for the new board to plan a budget by and I need to know if that is normal? We have always allocated all other money to particular funds and expect the current board to rely on their fall fundraiser. My issue is the prior board promised the staff a set dollar amount to use for their classrooms and that will leave this year's budget unfulfilled. We are in a low income district and plan only to make 3000.00 profit in the fall with expenses at 6000.00. Does this make sense? I think since 2000.00 has been used for so long it is outdated and unrealistic-just need to know if that is just a case of history repeating itself or is there a law somewhere? (not in bylaws)

[dlf]

Depends on your bylaws. Ours specify a 3k carry over. If that stipulation was not there, however, we would have no requirement to have any carryover in our budget. Some PTOs firmly believe in spending the entirity of their raised money during the school year it is raised so the children that worked the fundraisers are the benefactors. So check out your bylaws and see what they tell you; if there is nothing there--there is no 'PTO' law or governing agent that would make caryover a requirement. If you feel strongly-you may want to suggest a bylaws review and amendment of same to include a minimum budget carry over to ensure the next board is not left in a lurch.
If they plan to spend more than they earned but have the extra 3k in their budget from last year...to meet the 6k in obligations--then they can spend what's there. Not the nicest thing to do--nor does it show great vision ... but it isn't illegal.

Sorry...

d