Subject: Survey of School District Expenditures Under Executive Order RP47

November 13, 2006

Subject: Survey of School District Expenditures under Executive Order RP47

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

In response to questions received from school districts regarding the “Survey of School District Expenditures under Executive Order RP47” the agency is issuing the following clarification. The collection of this data is in response to the second part of the Governor’s Executive Order RP47; the first part of the order was the 65% instructional expenditure rule.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has extended the deadline for the submission of the survey to Monday, December 18, 2006. It is noted that it will take the districts time to compile this data and the agency will consider adding new codes to the chart of accounts for future year’s data collection.

All funds (except agency funds) should be considered when collecting this information.

Questions number 11 through 20 are for the school year 2004-2005 and questions number 22 through 32 are for the school year 2005-2006.

Question numbers 11 and 23arerequesting amounts for dues paid for outside organizations. This would include TASA, TASB, EquityCenter, Lions Club, Rotary Club,Local Chambers of Commerce, etc.

Question numbers 12 and 24 arerequesting amounts for lobbying costs your district might be paying.Include payments to a political action committee, caucus groups and other payments specifically for the purpose of lobbying. Do not include the dues listed in question numbers 11 and 23 unless there is an amount specifically listed on the billing invoice.

Question numbers13 and 25 arerequesting amounts for fees paid to consultants. This is basically object code 6219, Professional Services but might be other costs in 6239, EducationServiceCenter, or 6299, Miscellaneous Contracted Services.This would cover the areas of finance, curriculum, construction, etc.

Question numbers 14 and 26 includes costs associated with advertising in the newspaper or other media sources (bid announcements, legal notices, public hearing notices, etc.)

Question numbers 15 and 27 would be any public relations services. Does the district have a PR department? If so, it would be these costs: otherwise, any cost with promoting the district (press releases, etc.).

Question numbers 16, 17, 18, 19 and numbers 28, 29, 30 and 31 are for legal services (lawsuits/litigation) in these specific areas.

If the district pays a retainer fee for legal services then put these costs in question numbers 20 and 32 along with other legal costs not included in the previous legal questions.

If your district has submitted the survey and needs to make a correction you may resubmit the survey but please add in the comment section that you are making a correction to a prior submission.

If you have any questions please contact Janice Hollingsworth or Rita Chase in the TEA’s division of Financial Audits at (512) 463-7595.

Sincerely,

Adrain Johnson, Ed. D.

Associate Commissioner

School District Services