School Finance Unit

About

Colorado public schools receive funding from a variety of sources. However, most revenues to Colorado's 178 school districts are provided through the Public School Finance Act of 1994 (as amended).

In budget year 2018-19, this legislation provides for over $7.0 billion of funding to Colorado school districts via state taxes ($4.5 billion), local specific ownership (vehicle registration) taxes ($183.8 million), and local property taxes ($2.36 billion). Moneys provided via the Public School Finance Act of 1994 are available to each school district to fund the costs of providing public education.

Financial Transparency for Colorado Schools

Public School Finance Act

• Funding and Payment Information
• Historical Funding Information
• Charter School At-Risk Calculation
• Facility School Payments
• School Finance Bill Legislative Summaries

Categorical and Other State Funding

• State and Federal Grants Allocations
• Grant Distribution Reports
• READ Act Per Pupil Funding
• Transportation Funding
• Vocational Education - Colorado CTE

Mill Levies and Override Revenues

• Mill Levy Override Revenue Report: FY 2017-18 (PDF)
• Mill Levy Override Revenue Report: FY 2016-17 (PDF)
• Mill Levy Override Revenue Report: FY 2015-16 (PDF)
• Mill Levy Override Revenue Report: FY 2014-15 (PDF)
• Mill Levies and Override Revenues
• District Bonded Indebtedness

Reports Provided by Other Agencies

• School District Fiscal Health Analysis - State Auditor
• Mineral Lease Payments - Treasury
• Mineral Lease Payments - Department of Local Affairs
• School Finance 2016 Joint Budget Committee Meeting
• Cost of Living Study - March 2016 (PDF)
• State Education Fund Presentation - February 2015 (PDF)
• Average Daily Membership Study - SB 10-008
• Declining Enrollment Study - March 2010

Financial Policies and Procedures

• FPP Handbook  (new)
• Chart of Accounts (new)
• Advisory Committee Meetings and Minutes
• Financial Transparency
• GASB 84: Fiduciary Activities Changes (PDF)
• GASB 87: Leases (PDF)
• PERA: State on Behalf Payment

Statutory Compliance and Reporting

• Critical Dates - FY 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Critical Dates - FY 2018-2019 (PDF)
• Budget Templates - FY 2019-2020:
  • Uniform Budget Summary (XLS)
  • CDE-18 with links to Uniform Budget Summary (XLS)
  • CDE-18 with Salary Schedule Links and Uniform Budget Summary (XLS)
• Financial Audit Law and Submission
  • Network Charter Schools Financial Audit Requirements (updated 09/13/2018) (PDF)
  • Colorado Independent Audit Requirement for Charter School-Oct. 17, 2011 (PDF)
• Data Pipeline
  • Data Pipeline: Quick Reference (PDF)
  • Data Pipeline: Reconciliation Checklist (PDF)
  • Data Pipeline: Finance December Details
  • Data Pipeline: Single Sign-on
  • Revenue reports and check figures - FY 2019:
    • Financial Data Warehouse Sub-Recipient Report
    • State revenue check figures (XLS)
    • USDA Foods check figures(XLS)
  • Worksheet to Calculate Voter Approved MLO Revenue by county(XLS)
• Indirect Cost Rates
• Federal Grants Accounting Section
• Report on District Revenues and Expenditures
• Analysis: Funding Per Pupil by Accreditation Categories
• Accounting and Reporting for Pensions (GASB 68)
• GASB 68 Resources
• Financial Reporting, Prior Years

• Educational Services for Student Awaiting Trial as an Adult
• Interest Free Loan Program - Treasury
• Legislative Council Staff
• Office of State Planning and Budgeting

• Office of the State Auditor
• Colorado Revised Statutes - LexisNexis
• Code of Colorado Regulations - Secretary of State