Financial Health & Oversight
Financial Health and Oversight
Budget Transparency & Oversight
Transparency and oversight are essential to ensuring that school district funds are managed responsibly, ethically and in the best interests of students. Clear budget information, public reporting and meaningful community engagement help build trust and demonstrate how resources support educational priorities. Strong oversight also promotes accountability, reduces the risk of misuse and helps the district make informed, equitable and sustainable financial decisions.
Below, you can read about some of the ways transparency and oversight are part of our budgeting process.
Our Chief Financial Officer presents a budget update at each month’s Chehalis School Board meetings. These updates include actual budget figures, projections from our finance department and also the chance for our board members to ask questions about the budget.
The School Finance Advisory Committee was started in the 2025-2026 school year to create opportunities for members of our community to understand our budget process and have a greater voice in future district financial choices.
The Chehalis School District is required to undergo annual audits by the Office of the Washington State Auditor. Each year’s aduit focuses on a different aspect of financial systems, management and record keeping. The purpose of these audits is to ensure we are following our policies, procedures and the law when it comes to financial actions and decisions.
Our annual budget must be passed by the School Board at their July meeting every year. Prior to this meeting, we hold a budget hearing where members of the public may ask questions and make comments on the budget. The draft budget and notice of budget hearing are announced on our website prior to this meeting.
Important financial documents such as our current adopted budget, as well as
-
Our Chief Financial Officer presents a budget update at each month’s Chehalis School Board meetings. These updates include actual budget figures, projections from our finance department and also the chance for our board members to ask questions about the budget.
-
The School Finance Advisory Committee was started in the 2025-2026 school year to create opportunities for members of our community to understand our budget process and have a greater voice in future district financial choices.
-
The Chehalis School District is required to undergo annual audits by the Office of the Washington State Auditor. Each year’s aduit focuses on a different aspect of financial systems, management and record keeping. The purpose of these audits is to ensure we are following our policies, procedures and the law when it comes to financial actions and decisions.
-
Our annual budget must be passed by the School Board at their July meeting every year. Prior to this meeting, we hold a budget hearing where members of the public may ask questions and make comments on the budget. The draft budget and notice of budget hearing are announced on our website prior to this meeting.
-
Important financial documents such as our current adopted budget, as well as
School Finance Advisory Committee
The School Finance Advisory Committee was first established during the 2025-2026 school year to provide input to decision-making for the District’s annual budget. The committee convenes monthly
- Identifying priorities that will inform the district’s decision-making regarding balanced budgeting and fiscal sustainability while supporting the district’s priorities.
- Becoming an informed and accountable advisory committee for our community.
- Supporting sound decision making practices grounded in the Strategic Plan
Financial Health and Oversight Q&A
Providing accurate, transparent and helpful information to our community is important to us. If you have a question you don’t see answered here, please drop us a line using THIS LINK and we will get you the information you want.
