The Massachusetts General Laws lay out a number of responsibilities for the School Committee in district finance. Subsequent Department of Revenue opinions issued since the 1993 Education Reform Act have reaffirmed these authorities.
The school committee in each city and town and each regional school district: shall have the power to select and to terminate the superintendent, shall review and approve budgets for public education in the district, and shall establish educational goals and policies for the schools in the district consistent with the requirements of law and statewide goals and standards established by the board of education. MGL Ch. 71, sec.37
Note that these responsibilities are interrelated: the superintendent who is selected is the person overseeing the day-to-day work of the district, including the expenditure of the budget. The goals of the district can only be fulfilled if the budget is allocated in support of those goals. The policies set by the district should include policies regarding appropriate management of district funding.
The School Committee contracts with the school business administrator, though they do not evaluate them. MGL Ch. 71. Sec.41
The vote of the legislative body of a city or town shall establish the total appropriation for the support of the public schools, but may not limit the authority of the school committee to determine expenditures within the total appropriation. MGL Ch.71, sec.34
The municipal employer for the purposes of collective bargaining shall be represented by the school committee or its designated representative or representatives. MGL Ch.150E, Sec.1
The Committee shall approve and transmit warrants to the town accountant as often as once each month all bills, drafts, orders and payrolls. MGL Ch.41, Sec.56
Per DOR opinion 93-983, The School Committee remains the head of the school department for the purposes of approving bills and payrolls under MGL Ch.41, sec.41 and 56.
Such approval shall be given only after an examination to determine that the charges are correct and that the goods, materials or services charged for were ordered and that such goods and materials were delivered and that the services were actually rendered to or for the town as the case may be. MGL Ch.41, Sec.41
The school committee of each city, town or regional school district shall hold a public hearing on its proposed annual budget not less than seven days after publication of a notice thereof in a newspaper having general circulation in such city, town or district. MGL Ch.71, Sec.38N
Per DOR opinion 94-660, only the school committee has the authority to transfer amounts between line items (allocations) in its budget and cannot delegate this authority to any other municipal board or officer.
The School Committee accepts grants and gifts before their use. MGL Ch. 71, Sec. 37A