Created: 03/09/2018
Reviewed: 02/19/2024
Revised: 02/19/2024
The purpose of this document is to guide users through the Budget processing steps.
Review the following reminders:
This guide assumes you are familiar with the basic features of the ASCENDER Business system and have reviewed the ASCENDER Business Overview guide.
Some of the images and/or examples provided in this document are for informational purposes only and may not completely represent your LEA’s process.
Review the following information and/or complete the tasks listed before you begin the Budget Process steps.
The following terms are used throughout the Budget processing steps.
Term | Description |
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Export | A backup file of data as it stands at the time it is exported from the system. Export or backup files can later be used to restore data to its original state at the time of extraction. |
File ID C | Current file ID in Finance. |
File ID N | Next or new year file ID in Budget. |
LEA (Local Education Agency) | Refers to the educational entity (e.g., charter, district, etc.). |
Review the following PEIMS Edit rules to alleviate budget data warning errors.
❏ Create budget folders on your desktop to save any budget exports (backups).
❏ Create backups using the Budget > Utilities > Export by File ID page.
Budget > Utilities > Clear/Copy Budget Tables > Copy Finance Tables to Budget
Update the budget account code tables in the next year file ID (file ID N).
❏ Click to move all code tables from the left side to the right side of the page.
Optional: Select Preview Data to view a preview of each Finance table before it is copied to Budget.
❏ If Preview Data is selected:
❏ If Preview Data is not selected:
If this step is not processed, account codes that exist in the Finance file ID but do not exist in the Budget file ID are not updated.
Note: This step adds the fund/fiscal year for the new school year.
Budget > Utilities > Update Budget Data
IMPORTANT: Be sure to create an export for Budget Tables prior to using this utility.
Update the Budget Amended and Actual columns from file ID 3 in Finance or the last completed fiscal year.
Note: For history comparison purposes, it is very important to make sure that all entries for the last school year are updated before preparing this year's new budget file. Entries might include final check runs, journal vouchers, and audit entries that need to be included in the Actual column, and any amendments to last year's budget that need to be included in the appropriate budget column. Processing the Update Budget Data utility at this time ensures that all entries are included in the updated amounts.
❏ In the From GL File ID, select the prior year file ID (file ID 3) and click Retrieve.
❏ Under Update Column, select Amended and Actual to be updated in Budget for the selected fund/year codes.
Amended |
Select if you have posted entries in Journal Budget or Amended Budget to Estimated Revenue or Appropriations and did not select Original Budget Only in the Move Budget to Finance utility. |
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Actual |
Select if you have posted entries that have increased or decreased Realized Revenue, Encumbrance, or Expenditures in Finance. |
(Optional step - Depends on individual situations.) It is recommended that Include Inactive is selected under Account Code.
Select one of the following Account Code options:
Include Inactive | Select to include inactive account codes and amounts in the list of available account codes to be transferred. If selected, inactive accounts and amounts in the prior file ID are copied. If not selected, inactive accounts and amounts in the prior file ID are not copied. |
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Use Crosswalk | Select to crosswalk any account code elements for the selected fund/years that exist in the Mask Crosswalk utility. See Mask Crosswalk (Mass Change Account Codes). |
Only Existing Budget Accts | Select to include existing account codes and amounts in the list of available account codes to be transferred. |
❏ Under Accounting Period, select the following:
Current | The accounting period is set to Current by default, which uses the current accounting period amounts from Finance to populate Budget amounts. |
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❏ Under Object Description, select Description from GL (all account codes). This description is retrieved from the Chart of Accounts.
❏ All available fund/year codes from Finance are displayed on the left side of the page. Select the available fund/year codes to move to the right side of the page for the budget account code tables, general ledger accounts.
❏ Use the arrow buttons to move the appropriate funds from the left side to the right side of the page.
The following inquiries are recommended to verify account code amounts:
Compare fund totals from Budget file ID N to Finance file ID 3 to confirm that the Amended and Actual columns match. Use the colored outlines (i.e., red, blue, green, and yellow) to guide your comparison of the amounts.
Note: If the amounts do not match, contact your regional ESC consultant for assistance.
The following reports can also be generated if needed:
Budget > Utilities > Export by File ID
This step should be completed prior to continuing the process.
Create an export of file ID N.
This page is used to copy the selected file IDs to a user-designated archive file.
Export file IDs:
❏ Use the arrow buttons to move the appropriate file ID from the left side to the right side of the page.
❏ Click Execute to execute the process. You are prompted to create a backup.
Budget > Utilities > Delete by File ID
Log on to file ID N when performing this step.
Delete the existing file ID that conflicts with the file ID to be moved.
For example, delete file ID 4 2013-2014 to allow the 2023-2024 fiscal year to be stored in file ID 4.
❏ Click to move the appropriate file ID from the left side to the right side of the page.
❏ Click Execute to execute the process. A message is displayed indicating that you are about to delete budget tables.
A message is displayed indicating that the process was completed successfully. Click OK.
Budget > Utilities > Copy Current to New File ID
Copy the current year data to another file ID (2023-2024 to file ID 4) for historical purposes.
New File ID |
|
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Select All | Click to select the check boxes for all funds. |
❏ Click Execute to copy the selected funds to the new file ID. A message is displayed indicating that you are about to copy data from the current file ID to a new file ID and prompts you to continue.
❏ Click Yes. A message is displayed indicating that the process was successfully completed. Click OK.
❏ Log on to Budget file ID 4 and perform an inquiry to verify that all fund data was copied.
After verifying the fund data, log on to file ID N before continuing with the Budget process.
Verify that you are logged on to file ID N when performing this step.
Budget > Tables > District Budget Options
Set up the necessary parameters associated with preparing next year's budget.
Note: 61XX accounts and amounts are not displayed in the Requested column.
The cutoff date fields are optional and may vary depending on the LEA's operations.
Set up budget options:
School Year | Type the starting year and ending year. The field is only for informational purposes and is displayed on some reports. |
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Requested Cutoff Date | Type the date that the budget requests must be submitted in the MM-DD-YYYY format. When this date is less than the current date, those using the Requested column will no longer be able to make changes to accounts or amounts. |
Recommended Cutoff Date | Type the date that the district recommendations for the new budget must be submitted to the board for review in the MM-DD-YYYY format. When this date is less than the current date, those using the Recommended column will no longer be able to make changes to accounts or amounts. |
Approved Cutoff Date | Type the date that the board approval of the budget is required in the MM-DD-YYYY format. When this date is less than the current date, those using the Approved column will no longer be able to make changes to accounts or amounts. |
Capture Original Budget Flag | Select the field to update the original budget amount and the appropriations/estimated revenue amount. The Capture Original Budget Flag field works in conjunction with the Move Budget to Finance utility. The Full Amount or the Difference options on the Move Budget to Finance utility determine if this field is selected. If Capture Original Budget Flag is selected, only the original budget is moved. If Capture Original Budget Flag is not selected, transactions entered will update the appropriations/estimated revenue amount only. |
❏ Click Save.
❏ Use one of the following options to verify the changes:
TIP: Before continuing to step 8, it is recommended that you run and print the Budget Account Codes Inquiry as it will be needed for verification purposes in step 9.
Budget > Utilities > Reinitialize Budget Data
CAUTION: This step should only be performed one time, and you must run the prompted export.
Due to the effects this process has on the Budget file, it is imperative that you back up the Budget file before starting the reinitialization process.
This page is used to prepare the Budget file for the next school year. This process is run when the final budget for the prior school year has been adopted and posted to the general ledger. Amounts are maintained in order to create a budget history in the Budget master file. When reinitializing budget data, you can specify the funds you wish to shift, or you can select all funds. The following changes are made:
Reinitialize the budget data:
❏ Under Amt to use as Last Yr Closing Amt, select one of the following:
❏ Use the arrow buttons to move the fund/years to be reinitialized from the left side to the right side of the page.
❏ Click Execute to execute the process. The Budget System Reinitialize Funds Change report is displayed. Review the report.
❏ Click Process to process the changes. You are prompted to create a backup. Otherwise, click Cancel to cancel the process.
Budget > Inquiry > Budget Account Codes Inquiry
Verify the results.
❏ Select Summary.
❏ Type the Account Code components.
❏ Click Retrieve. The Account Code Inquiry - Summary report is displayed.
❏ Verify that the amount in the This Yr Actual Amt column (before reinitialization) is moved to the Last Yr Closing Amt column (after reinitialization).
❏ Verify that the amount in the Next Yr Approved column (before reinitialization) is moved to the This Yr Original Budget column (after reinitialization).
Budget > Utilities > Mass Change Account Codes > Mask Crosswalk
Update the account code fiscal years to the new fiscal year (e.g., update fiscal year 4 to 5).
❏ Complete the From Mask and To Mask fields.
From Mask | Type the from fiscal year code you want to crosswalk. |
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To Mask | Type the to fiscal year code you want to crosswalk. |
❏ Under Object Description, select Existing Code Description from Budget to retrieve the existing code element description from the current budget.
❏ Do not select any Options.
❏ Click Execute to execute the process. Review the report.
❏ Click Process to process the changes. You are prompted to create a backup. Otherwise, click Cancel to cancel processing.
Ensure that the user profiles are correctly set up for Budget use in Security Administration and District Administration.
❏ Create and manage users on the Security Administration > Manage Users > Create/Edit User page.
❏ Set up user profiles on the District Administration > Maintenance > User Profiles > Accounts tab.
❏ Use one of the following options to update the user account codes:
❏ Under Options, select Budget.
❏ Use the arrow buttons to move the fund/year accounts to be mass updated from the left side to the right side of the page.
❏ Click Execute. A message is displayed indicating that the mass update was successfully completed.
Budget > Utilities > Clear/Move NYR Requisitions to CYR
Skip this step if your LEA does not use the next year requisitions feature.
If your LEA uses the next year requisitions feature, clear the next year requisitions from the database.
❏ Leave the PO Date field as is (00-00-0000).
❏ Select Clear Next Year Requisitions Only to clear all next year requisitions from the database.
❏ Click Execute. When the process is completed, the Clear Next Year Requisitions report is displayed.
❏ Click Process to clear all next year requisitions from the database.
Budget > Utilities > Clear/Copy Budget Tables > Clear Budget Tables
Clear the simulation tables or Budget crosswalk tables.
Clear budget tables:
❏ Select from the following:
Clear Simulation Tables | Select to remove all data from the simulation tables unless there are generic tables that are used every year. |
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Clear Budget Crosswalk Table | Select to remove all data from the crosswalk tables. |
❏ Click Execute. A message is displayed indicating that the tables were cleared.
Budget > Utilities > Update Budget Data
Note: If mask crosswalks were performed in Finance they need to be performed in Budget before completing this step. If you need assistance with mask crosswalks, contact your regional ESC consultant.
Update the current year Budget Amended and Actual columns from Finance.
❏ In the From GL File ID, select the current year file ID (file ID C) and click Retrieve.
❏ Under Update Column, select Amended and Actual to be updated in Budget for the selected fund/year codes.
Amended |
Select if you have posted entries in Journal Budget or Amended Budget to Estimated Revenue or Appropriations and did not select Original Budget Only in the Move Budget to Finance utility. |
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Actual |
Select if you have posted entries that have increased or decreased Realized Revenue, Encumbrance, or Expenditures in Finance. |
(Optional step - Depends on individual situations.) It is recommended that none of the Account Code options are selected during this process.
Select one of the following Account Code options:
Include Inactive | Select to include inactive account codes and amounts in the list of available account codes to be transferred. If selected, any inactive accounts and amounts in the current file ID are copied over. If not selected, inactive accounts and amounts in the current file ID are not copied over. |
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Use Crosswalk | Select to crosswalk any account code elements for the selected fund/years that exist in the Mask Crosswalk utility. See Mask Crosswalk (Mass Change Account Codes). |
Only Existing Budget Accts | Select to include existing account codes and amounts in the list of available account codes to be transferred. |
❏ Select one of the following Accounting Period options:
Current | The accounting period is set to Current by default, which uses the current accounting period amounts from the Finance application to populate the Budget application amounts. |
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Next | Select to create Budget data using the next accounting period amounts in the Finance application. |
❏ Under Object Description, select Description from GL (all account codes). This description is retrieved from the Chart of Accounts.
❏ All available fund/year codes from Finance are displayed on the left side of the page. Select the available fund/year codes to move to the right side of the page for the budget account code tables, general ledger accounts.
❏ Use the arrow buttons to move the appropriate funds from the left side to the right side of the page.
❏ Click Execute to execute the process. The Update Budget Data Report is displayed with the old and new account codes that were updated. Review the report.
❏ Click Process to continue processing. Otherwise, click Cancel to cancel processing.
Budget > Inquiry > Budget Account Codes Inquiry
Perform a comparison inquiry.
❏ Select Summary.
❏ Type the Account Code components.
❏ Click Retrieve. The Account Code Inquiry - Summary report is displayed.
❏ The This Yr Amend Budget and This Yr Actual Amt columns are updated in Budget to reflect the amounts in Finance file ID C.
TIP: It is recommended that you update after every check run in order to update Actual expenditures.
Budget maintenance is now available.
Use any of the following tabs to create a budget simulation.
Example: If your user profile only allows access to 62XX accounts and you select, as part of the criteria, to update all 6XXX accounts, only the accounts that meet the 62XX criteria are reflected in the preview report when the simulation is executed. No 61XX, 63XX, 64XX, etc. are included in the calculations.
❏ Click Save.
❏ Click Execute to execute the process. A Mass Increase/Decrease Budget Account Code Report is displayed. Review the report.
❏ Click Process to complete the simulation process.
Example: The prior year amended budget can be moved to the new Budget file ID N.
Budget > Utilities > Budget Level Processing
Post the simulation in the tab of your choice.
CAUTION: You can repeat this step multiple times; however, be aware that each time a simulation is processed, it overwrites the existing data.
Notes:
Use one of the following tabs to complete this step:
Budget > Utilities > Budget Level Processing > Copy Level
After the Budget is approved, the Next Year Approved column must be populated before the accounts and amounts can be moved to Finance.
This utility is used to copy amounts from one budget level to another budget level. All amounts currently in the From Level are copied to the To Level. This feature enables the user to view and process from different levels. The cutoff date validates against the To level; it does not validate against the From level. The ability to perform this function is not dependent on being authorized to access to the Requested, Recommended, and Approved tabs.
Copy simulation data from one budget level to another:
❏ Under From Level:
Field | Description |
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Requested | Select to copy the Requested column level. If selected, the data replaces the data in the selected To Level. |
Recommended | Select to copy the Recommended column level. If selected, the data replaces the data in the selected To Level. |
Approved | Select to copy the Approved column level. If selected, the data replaces the data in the selected To Level. |
❏ Under To Level:
Requested | Select to indicate that the data in the selected From Level column will replace the data in this column. |
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Recommended | Select to indicate that the data in the selected From Level column will replace the data in this column. |
Approved | Select to indicate that the data in the selected From Level column will replace the data in this column. |
Note: You cannot copy the same From Level column to the same To Level column.
❏ Click Execute to copy the selected From Level simulations to the selected To Level. A Copy Level report is displayed. Review the report.
❏ Click Process to process the transfer of the selected simulation. You are prompted to create a backup. Otherwise, click Cancel to cancel the process.
Use the Budget Data maintenance pages to update amounts and descriptions or add/delete accounts.
Use the Budget Data - Quick Entry maintenance pages to only update amounts. These pages are ideal for principals and directors.
❏ Click to view any previously entered notes and other details for the associated account code. The Budget Data Details pop-up window opens.
Budget > Utilities > Delete Funds
Delete the funds that are no longer needed in Budget.
This page is used to delete all accounts for specific funds in the Budget master table. This function saves you from having to delete each account individually. A report of the deleted and not deleted funds is automatically generated.
All budget accounts are deleted for each of the funds selected, except:
Delete funds:
❏ Use the arrow buttons to move the appropriate funds from the left side to the right side of the page.
❏ Click Execute to delete the selected funds. The Budget System Delete Funds Change Report is displayed. Review the report.
❏ Click Process to process the selected accounts. Otherwise, click Cancel to return to the Delete Funds page without deleting the selected funds.
Budget > Tables > Account Codes > Fund
Delete the fund/fiscal year(s) that are not needed in the 2024-2025 budget file.
Select the fund/fiscal years (rows) to be deleted.
Delete a row.
Click to delete a row. The row is shaded red to indicate that it will be deleted when the record is saved.
| If accounts exist in Budget Data that use the fund/fiscal year code, a message is displayed and the fund is not deleted. |
Budget > Utilities > Export by File ID
After the budget is completed and approved by the Board, create an export and copy the budget data to a folder named: 2024-2025 Budget before Move to Finance.
Additional Budget information.
Review the following reports:
Budget > Reports > Budget Reports
Budget > Reports > Board Reports
Budget > Utilities > Mass Delete Zero Balance Accounts
Accounts with a zero amount in the Current Year Original, Current Year Amendment, and Current Year Actual columns are deleted.
Budget > Utilities > Mass Lock/Unlock Funds
Lock or unlock single or multiple funds/accounts as needed. Remember, locked funds or accounts cannot be manually updated by the user, updated through utilities, or by a NY payroll interface.
IMPORTANT: Before performing a final backup, unlock funds and account codes as locked accounts are not moved to Finance.
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