subsidy; appeals

1.__Schedules of payment of unit allocation.__The commissioner shall authorize state subsidy payments to the school administrative units to be made in accordance with time schedules set forth in sections 15005, 15689-D and 15901 to 15910.

2.__Notification of allocation; commissioner's duty; superintendent's duty. The following provisions apply to notification of allocation by the commissioner and each superintendent.

A.__The commissioner shall annually, prior to February 1st, notify each school board of the estimated amount to be allocated to the school administrative unit.

B.__Each superintendent shall report to the municipal officers whenever the school administrative unit is notified of the allocation or a change is made in the allocation resulting from an adjustment.

3.__Payments of state subsidy to unit's treasurer; basis. State subsidy payments must be made directly to the treasurer of each school administrative unit. The payments must be based on audited financial reports submitted by school administrative units.

4.__Appeals. A school board may appeal the computation of state subsidy for the school administrative unit to the state board in writing within 30 days of the date of notification of the computed amount. The state board shall review the appeal and make an adjustment if in its judgment an adjustment is justified. The state board's decision is final as to facts supported by the record of the appeal.

5.__School purpose expense requirement. Notwithstanding any other law, money allocated for school purposes may be expended only for school purposes.

6.__Balance of allocations. Notwithstanding any other law, general operating fund balances at the end of a school administrative unit's fiscal year must be carried forward to meet the unit's needs in the next year or over a period not to exceed 3 years.__Unallocated balances in excess of 3% of the previous fiscal year's school budget must be used to reduce the state and local share of the total allocation for the purpose of computing state subsidy.__School boards may carry forward unallocated balances in excess of 3% of the previous year's school budget and