Leander ISD has received the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) for the district’s 2021-22 budget document. This award reflects the District’s commitment to sound fiscal management and budgetary policies.

ASBO International’s MBA promotes and recognizes best budget presentation practices in school districts. Participants submit their applications and budget documents to a panel of school financial professionals who review the materials for compliance with the MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements and provide expert feedback that districts can use to improve their budget documents.

“Districts that apply to the MBA or Pathway to the MBA programs recognize the importance of presenting a high-quality, easy-to-understand budget internally and to the community,” ASBO International Executive Director David J. Lewis said. “By participating in the programs, not only do districts have access to the tools and resources they need to communicate the district’s goals and objectives clearly, they demonstrate their commitment to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”

The district has received the award six times since first submitting it for consideration.  The district did not submit for the award for the 2020-2021 budget due to the conversion of its financial software and pandemic-related time constraints. 

 The comments received this year include:

  • The District provides an excellent Executive Summary. 
  • The District is to be commended for its focus on ensuring equitable access and emphasizing social, emotional, and physical wellness among all students.
  • The budget also includes an overview of the impact of legislation concerning state funding, local tax efforts, and mandated programs.  The District also discussed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the budget.
  • The District provides a clear explanation of the District’s legal autonomy, the level of education offered, and the geographic area served with all district schools designated on a map.  There is a great history of the community included, dating back to the 1850s. The account is an excellent detail to provide the lay reader with an understanding of the development of the community to the present day.

The budget document submitted for the award includes much more comprehensive data than the budget document submitted to the Board for approval in June.  The document submitted for consideration and earning the award can be found on the district’s website as 2021-22 Official Budget Book.