CESA presenter outlines WUFAR fund structure and urges strategic use to protect instructional dollars
Loading...
Summary
At a Germantown School District finance committee meeting, CESA director Sarah Viera reviewed WisconsinUniform Financial Accounting Requirements (WUFAR) and urged accurate coding, zero-based budgeting and use of nonoperating funds to shield classroom resources; members asked about a temporary Fund 27 deficit and fund-balance reserves.
SARAH VIERA, director of business services at CESA 1, told the Germantown School District finance committee that WUFAR — the Wisconsin Uniform Financial Accounting Requirements — provides a standardized fund-accounting structure that makes state and federal reporting and aid calculations clearer.
"WUFAR actually stands for something. It's Wisconsin Uniform Financial Accounting Requirements," Viera said, and described the components of an account string (fund, type, object/source, function, location, project) that districts use to track revenues and expenses.
Viera walked the committee through common funds and their purposes, saying Fund 10 is the main operating fund, Fund 27 covers special education excess costs and must end a fiscal year balanced at zero, capital funds (41 and 46) support planned facility work, Fund 50 holds food-service revenues, and Fund 80 houses community service activities funded through a separate levy.
She recommended zero-based budgeting and careful reimbursement mapping to maximize federal and categorical aid. "Misallocations to Fund 10 can really result in lost reimbursement opportunities," Viera said, urging the board to code salaries, benefits and purchases accurately so eligible costs are claimed in Fund 27 or other appropriate funds.
Board members pressed staff on a reported deficit in Fund 27. Viera and Business Manager Britney Altendorf explained that the district times federal reimbursement claims and that interim accounting can show a deficit even when cash is available. "We strategically claim our federal dollars at certain times of year," Altendorf said, adding those schedules prevent short-term borrowing.
Committee members also discussed using Fund 41 and Fund 46 for pay-as-you-go capital work to avoid new borrowing, and the benefits of carving restricted, committed and assigned fund balances out of the general fund reserve. Viera said those practices protect instructional dollars and support long-term financial stability.
The presentation concluded with an invitation for staff to repurpose short segments of the session for public education and orientation of newly elected members.
The committee moved on after questions and thanked the presenters; no formal committee action was required on the WUFAR overview.
