The mission of the Business Office is to invest resources to ensure that students, parents and the community receive optimal educational services. The Business office strives to provide timely access to financial data using best business practices while maintaining proper internal controls and allowing for the accountable use of public funds through effective implementation of the District's business operations and financial systems.

The Business Office is responsible for:

Accounting/Budget
The Business office staff maintains the accounting and financial records of the District. Transactions are recorded and reported as prescribed by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the Texas Education Agency Financial Accountability System Resource Guide and other regulatory guidelines. Business office staff compiles district wide expenditures, salaries and other payroll expenditures to match the board adopted budget for State and Federal financial reporting. The department also assists in implementing the system of internal accounting controls established by the Board of Trustees to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded and activities are recorded and transacted with the administrations authorization.

Accounts Payable
The Business office staff processes payments to Commerce ISD’s vendors on a weekly basis.

Accounts Receivable
The Business office is responsible for the collection and reporting of resources consisting primarily of tax collections, state foundation program revenues and school lunch revenues. Additionally, staff is responsible for providing adequate liquidity to fund daily, weekly and monthly cash disbursements as well as investing resources in accordance with the Public Funds Investment Act and the District’s Investment Policy to maximize safety, liquidity and yield.

The District uses FARS (Federal Automated Recovery System) to collect payment from check writers. When provided a check as payment, the district is authorized to use information from the check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from the checking account or to process the payment as a check transaction. We are authorized to collect a fee of $30 (plus a bank fee charged to the merchant if allowed by state law) through electronic fund transfer from the checking account if payment is returned unpaid. Please include the following information on checks: drivers license number, full name, street address and phone number.

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Payroll
The Business office processes district’s Semi-Monthly payroll and is responsible for payroll tax reporting. The staff is also responsible for direct deposits, garnishments, teacher association deductions, approved stipends, overtime and missed or late time correction payments. Payroll also accepts insurance payments from employees who are still eligible for benefits but are out on leave and not receiving a check.

Purchasing
The Business office is responsible for the organization and administration of procurement/purchasing for the District in accordance with the authority delegated by the Superintendent, the Board of Trustees and the Texas Education Agency.

What is purchasing? "Public Purchasing is the process of obtaining goods, services and construction for public purposes according to laws and procedures to provide for the economical expenditure of public funds." ...As defined by the Texas Building and Procurement Commission-Austin, Texas