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State Aid and Financial Planning Service
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2013 Guidebook to School Business Official Monthly Calendar Now Available

Available for download is the new guidebook that will assist you in the upcoming school year: School Business Official Monthly Calendar and Reporting Documents

Preparing for the State Aid Claim Process - Elluminate Sessions

State Aid & Financial Planning Service is offering Elluminate presentations on how to prepare for the state aid claim process. The focus of the presentation will be on claim forms and resources necessary to complete the forms. READ MORE>>

Publish Competitive Contact Bids Before June 1st

Districts planning on contracting for transportation services in the 2013-14 school year must publish competitive bids no later than June 1, 2013. Those anticipating contracts for transportation of children with disabilities have until July 1st to publish bids. 

 

All contracts awarded as a result of competitive bidding must be filed with SED within 30 days following approval of the contract by the BOE or trustee. Contracts which cannot be awarded on or before August 1st must be filed within five days after approval by the board of education or trustee. READ MORE>>

Worksheet to track state aid

The State Aid and Financial Planning Service has an Excel worksheet that can be used by school districts to determine how much state aid they will be receiving for the school year and to track state aid payments throughout the year.  The worksheet is can be downloaded from our website: http://sap.questar.org/tools.php  where you will find the “State Aid Reconciliation worksheet” at the top of the page.  This worksheet is useful for tracking your state aid revenue for the school year and determining the amounts you will accrue as receivables at the end of the school year. 

Reminder: Certain budget documents must be made available to the public

The Budget Statement and required attachments must be made available to the public (upon request) at each school building in the district, the district office, any public or free association library located within the district and on the school district’s internet website, if one exists at least 7 days before the Budget Hearing date and not less than 14 days before the Annual Budget Vote. READ MORE>>

Property Tax Report Card, Administrative Salary Disclosure and School Budget Notice

The Property Tax Report Card and Administrative Salary Disclosure Information is available through the State Aid Management System (SAMS). READ MORE>>

2013-14 Charter School Basic Tuition Rates

The State Aid Office at SED has published the Charter School Basic Tuition Rates for the upcoming 2013-14 school year. These rates represent the per pupil payment that public schools are required to make for district resident students enrolled in charter schools. As a reminder, per the recently approved state budget, these 2013-14 rates remain frozen at the 2010-11 amounts.  You can access your district’s rates at: https://stateaid.nysed.gov/charter/html_docs/charter_1314_rates.htm

The State Aid and Financial Planning Service now has desktop videoconferencing available!

Each of our specialists have access to Jabber Video, a desktop application that allows us to connect via HD video and also allows for desktop sharing. We can connect with individual or multiple sites. The use of this technology will allow us to share information and data for your district as we work to address your questions and requests for information.

 

If you are interested in connecting with us via video or would like more information, contact our office or your local regional information center for availability in your region. Please see the brochure for technical (PC and multimedia) requirements and more information about Jabber.

Reminder!  2012-13 Textbook, Software and Library Materials Aid will be Frozen April 30, 2013.

Districts should review their 2012-13 IMA Output Reports from the State Aid website at this time to determine if they are receiving the maximum amount of Instructional Materials Aid available to them for the 2012-13 school year. Comparing line items as listed here will tell you if you are maximizing these aids. READ MORE>>

 

GEA Restoration Calculator

A detailed analysis of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) Restoration enacted in the 2013-14 budget can be found here: http://sap.questar.org/districts.php. This spreadsheet can help you determine the amount of GEA Restoration funding your district received and which tier(s) your district qualified/did not qualify for. Enter your BEDS code in the top left of the spreadsheet and your district-specific information will immediately populate. If you do not know your BEDS Codes, you can look it up in the “BEDS Code List” tab.

Reminder:  Sales and Use Tax Returns are due March 20

New York State and local annual sales and use tax returns are due Wednesday, March 20, 2013  for the current sales tax year,  March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.  Information and forms can be found at: http://www.tax.ny.gov/forms/sales_cur_forms.htm

2013-14 Enacted Budget Summary

Information on the 2013-14 Enacted Budget is now available on our Legislative Services page. READ MORE>>

Staff Update

State Aid and Financial Planning Service would like to welcome our newest specialist, Brian Cechnicki. Brian comes to us from the New York State Division of Budget’s Education Unit. Prior to that role, Brian was a Legislative Aide in the New York State Assembly. Brian will be working out of our main office at Questar III BOCES.

Updated information on the Property Tax Levy Cap

Information on the Property Tax Levy Cap has been updated and is now available on the Property Tax Cap page. READ MORE>>

Reminder:  Sales and Use Tax Returns are due March 20.

New York State and local annual sales and use tax returns are due Wednesday, March 20, 2013  for the current sales tax year,  March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.  Information and forms can be found at: http://www.tax.ny.gov/forms/sales_cur_forms.htm

Summer Transportation Cost Reporting for Students with Disabilities on the ST-3

Districts are required to report their July and August transportation expenditures for students with disabilities (SWDs) enrolled in summer Section 4408, summer Section 4201, and summer OPWDD Chapter 47, 66, or 721 programs in a prescribed section of the Special Aid Fund within the ST-3. READ MORE>>

Chapter 97 Rules and your Building Aid Projections

Chapter 97 of the Laws of 2011 changed the rule for when school districts begin to receive Building aid on capital projects they have undertaken. READ MORE>>

A waiver application is available on NYSED state aid unit web site.

Our previous emails have informed you of the potential loss in Building aid due do the State’s recalibration of interest rates used in the aid calculation. READ MORE>>

State Aid and Financial Planning seeks Senior State Aid Specialist

The Questar III BOCES State Aid and Financial Planning Service has an opening for a dynamic individual to join our team as a Senior State Aid Specialist in our Castleton, NY office.  READ MORE>>

Fall 2013 workshop schedule

The schedule for the fall 2013 workshop series is now available. DOWNLOAD SCHEDULE>>

Prospective Amortizations List Posted

SED has posted a list displaying the estimated impact of the interest rate reduction on your prospective project 2012-13 and 2013-14 assumed aidable debt service and aid.  The list can be accessed here:  https://stateaid.nysed.gov/build/html_docs/interest_rate_recalibration_feb2013.htm

Please note impacted projects include any prospective projects with amortization beginning before 7/1/04.

Recalibration of Interest Rates Affecting Building Aid

SED posted an update on the ‘Recalibration of Interest Rates Affecting Building Aid.’ The update includes new information on a waiver process. READ MORE>>

Summer 4408 Payment

Funding for the 2012 July & August Section 4408 Education and Maintenance will be released in March. In order to receive this funding, please process online verifications for the 2012 Summer Education and Maintenance (4408) using the DVSUM screen on the STAC On line system by 03/01/13.  Check the Gold Star chart (last updated on 02/01/13) or the DQSBO screen to determine your district's 4408 verification status.

Workshop materials are now available

Materials for the workshop are now available on the workshop page. READ MORE>>

SED announces Tax Cap 2013 webinars

The State Education Department (SED) Office of Educational Management Services recently posted a notification regarding “ Tax Cap 2013”  webinars to be conducted on 2/27 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon and on 2/28 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. READ MORE>>

Medicaid Cost reporting requirement for schools - deadline extended

The deadline for Medicaid Cost reporting in the Medicaid Cost Reporting and Claiming System (MCRCS) has been extended to March 15, 2013. MORE INFORMATION>> 

$87 million available for technology spending

The State Education Department Commissioner, John B. King announced funding available to assist schools with technology purchases they will need in preparation for Computer Based Testing (CBT). READ MORE>>

Approved Payment Report (APR)

Funding for July/August 2011, 4408 and 4201 programs has been released with an Approved Payment Report (APR) dated 1/29/13. READ MORE>>

Medicaid Cost reporting requirement for schools

By now most school districts across the state are aware that if they bill for Medicaid reimbursement there are new cost reporting requirements that must be followed. READ MORE>> 

TRS provides estimated rate

The NYS Teachers’ Retirement System released the Administrative Bulletin 2013-1 which recommends school districts use an estimated rate for 2013-14 employer contributions to the system of 16.25%. The bulletin emphasizes that this is an estimate and that the final rate will not be adopted until sometime this summer. You can access the bulletin at http://www.nystrs.org/main/admbull/admbull.html. 

2013-14 Executive Budget Summary

On January 22nd, Governor Cuomo presented his proposal for the 2013-14 state budget. The Governor is proposing a total of $21.085 billion in state support for public schools. This represents a year-to-year increase of $889 million (4.4%), as compared to the approved 2012-13 budget. READ MORE>>

2013-14 Executive Budget School Aid Runs

Governor Cuomo released his 2013-14 Executive Budget proposal. The school aid runs based off the budget proposal have been posted by the Division of Budget. These figures should also be posted on your district’s State Aid Unit homepage soon. Our office is currently reviewing the Governor’s budget proposal and we anticipate sending out a detailed summary of the proposal by Wednesday. SCHOOL AID RUNS>>

NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act

Earlier this week, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, the NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act. The legislation includes provisions that specifically affect school districts. READ MORE>>

Change in the CPI-U for 2012 was 2.1%

A key factor in calculating the tax levy limit is the allowable levy growth factor, which is the lesser of 1.02 OR (1+ the inflation factor), with a minimum of 1.0. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the inflation factor, or the change in the CPI, for 2012 has increased by 2.1%. This increase assigns a set 2% for the allowable growth factor. For more information please visit the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s website: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/.

Special Education Guidebook

Available for download is the new Students with Disabilities Guidebook. DOWNLOAD GUIDEBOOK>>

Changes in projection data due to SED by January 15th

According to the State Education Department’s State Aid unit website: To guarantee inclusion in the February 15th database file, all changes to 2012-13 SAMS should be submitted by January 15, 2013. READ MORE>>

 

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