705.4 - Appropriate Use of Public Funds

Public Purpose

School district funds are to be expended only for legitimate public purposes and not for private personal gain for which services of comparable value have not been rendered to the school district. This is a requirement of the Iowa Constitution.

All funds received by the school district are considered public funds and must be used to support the educational mission of the school district. The best test to use when determining whether the expenditure is appropriate is called the public scrutiny test. The test is whether the tax-paying public would view the expenditure as necessary to support public education. If employees question whether an expenditure is appropriate, it may very well not be appropriate.  Employees should contact their supervisor if they have any questions about appropriate expenses.

The board supports appropriate expenditures of school district funds for school district officers, directors, employees, and volunteers, as these are commonly granted benefits in public and private organizations which aid in recruitment of personnel, promote improvement of staff morale and cooperation, and assist in building a commitment to the school district, thus assisting in creating a more productive learning environment. The following are considered appropriate expenditures provided they are awards or tokens from the school district; not from the department or building level:

1. Food items, refreshments, and/or mementoes from the school district for employee recruitment or recognition for service to the school district.
2. School district retirement appreciation function and or item to recognize retiring employees.
3. Recognition items upon the end of service by a board member.
4. School district volunteer appreciation events.
5. Food items and refreshments for board members and staff during board meetings and/or work sessions.
6. Food items and refreshments for board committees, superintendent committees or committee meetings that include participation from the public during the meeting.

School district awards or tokens of recognition shall be determined by the superintendent or designee in advance and shall be paid for with school district funds under the control of the superintendent or designee. Public funds should not be used for the purchase of department or building level staff awards or tokens of recognition.

 

Sales Tax Exempt

The school district is Iowa sales tax exempt. All items purchased by a public school for the school’s own use, qualify for an exemption from sales tax if the items purchased relate to the educational process. When making purchases, the staff member must inform the vendor that the purchase is sales tax exempt. A vendor can request a tax exemption form from the school district. The school district will not reimburse for sales tax paid on purchases made on behalf of the school district.  When purchasing meals in Iowa, an effort must be made to have the meal purchase Iowa sales tax-exempt. Staff members must inform the restaurant before the order is placed that you are with the school district and that the purchase should be sales tax exempt. If the restaurant is unable to comply and the purchase is within the school district meal limits, the purchase will be an appropriate expense for reimbursement.

 

Examples of Appropriate and Inappropriate Use of Public Monies

This section identifies specific practices and procedures to be followed by all school district employees when using public funds. The following list is intended to provide examples and may not be all inclusive.

 

FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS

1. Alcohol
   The purchase of alcohol is never an acceptable use of public monies.
2. Meetings, Trainings, and Professional Development
   Meals and snacks are normally a personal expense. Any meal or snack paid for with public funds must be a reasonable price and an integral part of employment duties.  Meals and snacks can be paid for with public funds if:
   1. The meeting is four (4) hours or more and separate breaks would be disruptive to the meeting objectives.
   2. The meeting is a breakfast, lunch or dinner meeting where the meeting is shorter than four hours in duration and attendance during meal time(s) is a requirement of an employee’s job duties.  The amount paid per meal shall not exceed $14 per person; exceptions may be approved by the superintendent or designee.
   3. Tips for meals are allowed but should not exceed 15%.
3. Board Meetings
   The board meets at a time that is intended to be convenient for the general public. Meetings routinely span the normal dinner hour. Serving      meals of reasonable value to board members and staff required to attend board meetings is considered an appropriate expense.
4. Coffee and Beverages
   Coffee and other beverages are normally a personal expense. A voluntary collection can be made from those who desire to have coffee and      other beverages in the school/department. Except for meetings, trainings, and professional development (Item B), Board meetings (Item C),and public areas (Item H)), coffee and beverages shall not be purchased with public funds.
5. Employee Break Room Supplies
   Public funds should not be used to stock supplies such as plasticware and paper products in employee break rooms. A voluntary collection        can be made from those who desire to have such supplies.
6. Individual Receptions
   Receptions for individual employees should never be paid from public funds. This includes retirement dinners, staff meals, welcome              aboard receptions, and similar gatherings where food and/or refreshments may be served. Voluntary collections can be taken from those attending such gatherings.
7. Acceptable Occasions
   The superintendent or designee may determine that the serving of food or refreshments is appropriate for selected occasions.  The annual retirement reception for all school district employees is one example.
8. Public Areas
   In some cases, a building or part of a building is routinely open to the public for conducting school district business.  Having refreshmentsof nominal value available to members of the public, such as coffee and other nominal snacks/beverages, are considered a courtesy and are authorized in these specific locations.
9. Student Incentives
   Incentives purchased for qualifying groups of students from public funds as part of an initiative, program, or recognition (e.g., rewards, honor roll) shall be of nominal value and authorized by the school administrator.

GIFTS

1. Employee Gifts
   Expenditures of public funds for gifts or gift cards to staff and employees are not authorized. This includes gifts purchased for staff              birthdays or other personal occasions. Voluntary collections from staff would be an acceptable way of purchasing employee gifts.
2. Tokens/Clothing
   The purchase of tokens of appreciation, or personal clothing (e.g., coffee mugs, pens, tote bags, T-shirts/apparel, etc.) is not authorized.

FLOWERS

1. Sympathy and Congratulations
   The use of public funds for the purchase of flowers is restricted to exceptional occasions where a public expression of sympathy or congratulations has been determined by the superintendent or designee to be in the best interests of the school district. Written expressions of condolence are encouraged for all other occasions where flowers are not appropriate.
2. Individual Achievements
   Unless they are part of an award or graduation ceremony, flowers are not appropriate for individual achievements.
3. School Activities
   Flowers/decorations purchased for proms, dances, homecomings, etc., may be purchased out of school activity funds if authorized by the school administrator.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

1. School District Awards and Recognitions
   At times, awards or recognitions are appropriate for presentation to school district staff for years of service. School district awards or recognitions shall be determined by the superintendent or designee in advance and shall be paid for with school district funds.  Public funds should not be used for the purchase of department or building level staff awards or recognitions.
2. External Awards and Recognitions
   At times, awards are appropriate for presentation to people (e.g., volunteers) or organizations external to the school district.  External awards or recognitions shall be determined by the superintendent or designee in advance.

BREAK ROOM EQUIPMENT

Microwaves, refrigerators, coffee pots, toaster ovens and other similar equipment items may be procured with public funds for use in public reception areas and employee break rooms. Otherwise, these items must be purchased with personal funds. In all instances, all fire marshal safety restrictions must be observed. These items are not authorized in classrooms and offices.

HOLIDAY PARTIES, DECORATIONS, AND CARDS

1. Holiday Decorations
   Office holiday decorations shall not be purchased with public funds.
2. Holiday Cards
   Holiday cards shall not be purchased with public funds.
3. Holiday Parties
   Staff holiday parties and meals are a personal expense. Voluntary collections may be taken to fund holiday events.  Public funds shall not be used for holiday parties.

STUDENT ACTIVITY FUNDS

Student activity funds are public funds and are to be used to finance a program of co- curricular school activities supplementing, but not replacing, the activities provided by the school district. Student activity funds are derived from the student body as a whole and shall be so expended to benefit the student body as a whole.

 

 

Approved: 9-13-22                
Reviewed:                  
Revised: