American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF)
June, 2010

Program Description: The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) program is a one-time appropriation of $53.6 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). These funds will help stabilize state and local government budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in education and other essential public services. The program will help ensure that local educational agencies (LEAs) and public institutions of higher education (IHEs) have the resources to avert cuts and retain teachers and professors. The program may also help support the modernization, renovation, and repair of school and college facilities. For an overview of the federal State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program select this link: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/factsheet/stabilization-fund.html.

2009-10 Vendor/Employment Impact Survey for State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF)

DPI will use an electronic survey tool to collect the required ARRA data from school districts. Districts will receive a Vendor/Employment Impact Survey for the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds paid June 21 to backfill the equalization aid. The surveys will be e-mailed June 16, 2010 and must be completed by June 23, 2010. All districts receiving the funds MUST submit the survey. Below are several links to assist your district in preparing for and filling out the survey.

• FTE Calculator specific to SFSF
• Frequently Asked Questions Survey Reporting specific to SFSF
• Examples relating to the Frequently Asked Questions
• Webinar on filing of the SFSF vendor/employment impact survey

2009-10 School Fiscal Year Reporting for Wisconsin School Districts

• School districts will receive stabilization fund revenue for the 2009-10 school fiscal year in the amount of $236,722,000. The state applied for these funds on January 11, 2010.

• The stabilization fund revenue will again replace a portion of a school district’s general equalization aid eligibility. Districts can view an estimated amount of their 2009-10 general equalization aid eligibility that will be stabilization fund revenue at http://www.dpi.wi.gov/sfs/xls/2009-2010_Fiscal_Stabilization_Payment.xls.

• Districts will again code the revenue in WUFAR to Source 718 and code expenditures to WUFAR Project Code 810. Districts are allowed to use the 2009-10 stabilization fund revenue for most expenditures related to general school operations and must use the highest level of coding per the WUFAR document to provide the most detail and hopefully eliminate any questions as to whether the cost is allowed. Guidance for allowable expenditure accounts can be found in the application instructions found at the link below.

• School districts will be required to apply for, account for, and verify their use of the stabilization fund revenue by completing the form PI-1595-APP, a spreadsheet with detailed budget accounting information, and form PI-1595-CLM to claim the dollars.

• A 10 minute Mediasite presentation with guidance on completing and submitting the PI-1595 application and claim forms is available at:
  http://dpimedia.wi.gov/main/Viewer/?peid=1ccf7514415f40878d4971301162af18 The power point slides for the mediasite are available at: http://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/presentations.html

• An optional checklist is that can act as a reminder of the steps in the process is available for districts to use at:
  http://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/xls/f1595-checklst.xls
  

• The PI-1595-APP forms and instructions for completing the application are available at:
  http://dpi.wi.gov/forms/xls/f1595-app.xls

• The PI-1595-CLM claim form is available at:
  http://dpi.wi.gov/forms/xls/f1595-clm.xls

• Districts are required to submit the application and account documentation by April 16 via email to dpisfsreports@dpi.wi.gov and will receive approval from the SFS team. Check the application/claim log for district status at: http://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/xls/stabilization_rpting_log.xls

• The PI-1595-CLM claim form is due May 24. Both application and claim may be submitted at the same time if expenditures have been incurred at the time of original submission.

• Districts will be asked by their auditors for a list of expenses identified by project code 810 and should have appropriate accounting documentation available in addition to completed and signed application and claim forms. Failure to produce these documents could generate a finding against the district.

• School districts will receive the stabilization revenue on June 21, 2010 as part of their equalization aid payment.

• Districts will again be required to complete a jobs/vendor survey, due June 23, as part of the quarterly reporting of ARRA funds.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Guidance and Monitoring

Guidance for Grantees and Auditors as well as the Monitoring plan for the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds is available on the US Department of Education website at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/applicant.html

Program Contact:

Jerry Landmark, Director
School Financial Service Team
Department of Public Instruction

Tel: (608) 267-9209
E-mail: mailto:jerome.landmark@dpi.wi.gov

For questions about this information, contact dpifin@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9114

Last updated on 6/11/2010 10:36:18 AM