801.3 - Transfer of Funds

The board may loan monies between funds through an official board resolution. The resolution must specify the funds from which and to which the transfer will be made. The board will exercise this authority judiciously.

When the necessity for a fund has ceased to exist, or when the board is given authority to transfer categorical or other funds and has met the conditions of exercising the authority, the balance may be transferred to another fund or account or the expenditures may be directed by board resolution, as required. School district monies received for a specific purpose or upon vote of the people may only be transferred by board resolution when the purpose for which the monies were received has been completed or when authority to exercise local discretion to expend funds flexibility has been granted. Voter approval is required to transfer monies to the general fund from the capital projects fund and debt service fund unless state authority allows such a transfer without a vote.

If all requirements for district use of funds under the Preschool Foundation Aid, Professional Development Supplement, Home School Assistance Program, Teacher Leadership Supplement, or any discontinued fund have been met and funds remain unexpended and unobligated at the end of the fiscal year, the district may transfer all or a portion of remaining funds by passage of a board resolution into the district’s flexibility account in accordance with law. Before the expenditure of amounts in the flexibility account, the district shall publish notice of the time, date, and place of a public hearing on the proposed resolution approving said expenditures. The board must find and certify that the statutory requirements of each original source of funds have been met before adopting the resolution approving the expenditures. The district will present a copy of the signed board resolution to the Department of Education.

The district may transfer by board resolution from the general fund to the student activity fund an amount needed to purchase or refurbish protective and safety equipment required for any extracurricular, interscholastic athletic contest or competition sponsored or administered by the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) or Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU).

If the before and after school program exceeds the amount necessary to operate the program the excess amount may, following public hearing, be transferred by resolution of the school board for deposit into the general fund to be used for district general fund purposes. The district will present a copy of the signed board resolution to the Department of Education.

The district may choose to request approval from the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) to transfer funds to make a program whole prior to its elimination.

A temporary transfer, a loan from one fund to another, will be at a rate of interest consistent with the state rate. The loan will be paid off by October 1st of the following fiscal year to which the loan was made. 

It is the responsibility of the board secretary [or designee] to make recommendations to the superintendent and the board regarding loans and transfers and to provide supporting evidence for the transfer.


Adopted: 6/70
Reviewed: 10/12; 5/15; 12/18
Revised: 7/10; 12/13; 9/21; 1/22; 8/23
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): §§ 24.21-22; 257.10; 279.8; 279.42; 298A; 289 IAC 6
IASB Reference: 701.02