Strategic surplus return appropriation

​​​​Purpose

Through a school year budget cycle, schools may identify accumulated funds from previous years or receive unexpected appropriation payments during the course of strategic budget planning. The principal may identify those funds may not be invested efficiently to achieve educational priorities identified in the school's strategic plan.

Schools can elect to return identified funds via this appropriation to support reinvestment in other school communities or initiatives aimed at supporting Queensland state school students.

Duration of program

Ongoing

Eligibility

State schools

Allocation of funds

This program provides an avenue for schools to return funding previously received via School Appropriation Payment Application (SAPA)​​ that has been identified as excess to investment requirements during the strategic plan cycle. This appropriation may also assist schools that are currently non-operational to return excess funds.

Prior to progressing the return of funds, schools should consider whether additional strategic investment opportunities that benefit their current student cohort or school community should be implemented. This may include:

• reducing the Student Resource Scheme user charge
• providing additional support for students to improve educational outcomes
• investing in new or upgraded resources
• bringing forward initiatives planned for future years
• providing support to local feeder schools to improve student preparedness.
  

Schools should also seek advice from the school supervisor, regional Financial Advisory Service (FAS) teams, regional Human Resources (HR) teams and regional infrastructure advisors on strategic investment opportunities prior to progression of a return appropriation.

Once all investment alternatives have been exhausted, then a return appropriation should be considered.

Any funds returned will be re-invested in schools or other programs to support improved educational outcomes for Queensland state school students. In term 1 of each school year, deidentified details of the returns and re-investments from the prior school year will be published in ConnectEd.

Payment details

Recoupment policy

In accordance with the ​banking controls, with the exception of the director-general, no departmental employee can direct a principal to transfer funds from their school bank account to any other bank account.

In the event of emergent resourcing issues at a school that has returned funds, schools can apply to draw down on the funds returned once within a 4-year period.

Any funds returned on direction of the director-general are exempt from the strategic surplus return appropriation.

How to apply

Communication, consultation and negotiation between the principal, school supervisor, regional FAS teams, regional HR teams and regional infrastructure advisors will identify if an opportunity to return funding in excess of requirements identified in the strategic plan exists.

Indicators that could signal this option may include:

• end of year bank account balance > annual appropriations received
• budget utilisation has been <70% consecutively in the previous 3 years
• if provisions for future years are increasing year on year with no future projects pending
• budget reviews indicate goals are being achieved and budget remains in surplus
• advice from school supervisor, regional FAS teams, regional HR teams and regional infrastructure advisors all confirm investment opportunities have been exhausted.

In the event a school needs to access the funding following a return due to unexpected costs or unexpected reduction in revenue, an application for a draw down on the returns appropriation could be conducted.

The draw down process would mirror the financial hardship process outlined in the Payments to State Schools Framework and would need to be endorsed by a regional director.

Further information

For further information, department employees can search 'FAQ strategic surplus appropriation' on OnePortal.​

Contact

Schools and Student Support
Phone: (07) 3034 4772