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HCPSS / POLICIES

4000 Series: Fiscal Management

Policy 4000 Grants

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for seeking and administering grants.

Policy 4010 Donations

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the review, acceptance, and refusal of donations.

Policy 4020 Fundraising by Schools and School-Sponsored Organizations

The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for fundraising activities within the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS).

Policy 4030 School Activity Funds

The purpose of this policy is to establish parameters for the accountability of school activity funds.

Policy 4040 Fixed Assets

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the Board’s fixed assets are acquired, safeguarded, controlled, disposed of, and accounted for in accordance with state and federal regulations, auditor requirements, and applicable accounting pronouncements. This policy also addresses the following issues related to fixed assets:

  • General provisions about the property management system used to account for and control these assets * Ownership of the Board’s fixed assets * Assignment of responsibility and accountability for fixed assets * Capitalization thresholds for fixed assets.

Policy 4050 Procurement of Goods and/or Services

The purpose of this policy is to provide direction, set guidelines, and establish appropriate business processes regarding procurement of goods and/or services for the HCPSS.

Policy 4060 Medicaid Reimbursement for Health-Related Services

The purpose of this policy is to authorize conditions under which the HCPSS may seek reimbursement for health-related services provided to Medicaid eligible children with disabilities.

Policy 4070 Fund Balance

The purposes of this policy are the following:

A. To provide guidance for the setting of an appropriate level of unassigned fund balance in the General Fund and Other Funds.

B. To establish the circumstance for which unassigned fund balance or unrestricted net position can be used.

C. To establish the requirement for replenishing unassigned fund balance or unrestricted net position when it does not meet the amounts established by policy.

D. To set the expectation to balance the amount of resources maintained in fund balance and net position with efficient taxation.

E. To ensure that fund balance is reported in a manner that promotes clear understanding of the availability and uses of fund balances consistent with the accounting standards for classifying fund balance promulgated by GASB Statement No. 54.

Policy 4080 Disposition of Property

The purpose of this policy is to provide the guidelines relating to the efficient disposal of Board property other than real property.

Policy 4090 Debt Management

This policy sets forth the parameters and processes for issuing debt as well as managing outstanding debt. The scope of this policy is limited to lease obligations of the Board and does not include or envision debt incurred on the Board’s behalf by the State of Maryland or the Howard County Government.

Policy 4100 Investment

This investment policy is intended to establish the investment scope, objectives, and delegation of authority from the Board to the Superintendent/designee to invest school system unexpended funds, and the standards of prudence to be applied to such investments.

Policy 4200 Meal Charges

The purpose of this policy is to outline how schools handle providing meals to students when payment cannot be collected at the point of service, while maintaining the integrity of the food service program and the dignity of students and households.