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SDLA Compliance Resource

Disclose Non-Voter-Approved Debt Before Board Approval

An implementation guide for notifying the county superintendent and county auditor at least 30 days before the board approves certificates of participation or other non-voter-approved debt.

  • Fiscal & Budget
  • Governance & Board Approval
Date(s)Event-triggered: at least 30 days before the board approves issuing certificates of participation or other debt secured by real property that does not require voter approval
Applies toSchool districts (county boards notify the State Superintendent under subdivision (b))

In Plain Language: Before the board approves certificates of participation or other debt that voters do not approve and that is secured by real property, the district must notify the county superintendent and county auditor at least 30 days in advance. The superintendent must provide repayment schedules and evidence that the district can repay. The county officials may comment publicly within 15 days.

Why this matters

Skipping the notice can delay or derail a financing and invites county intervention. Districts with a qualified or negative certification face additional limits on new debt.

Joint ownership

District: superintendent, chief business official, financial advisor, and bond counsel. County office and county auditor: receive the notice and may comment. Board: approves the financing.

From a financing plan to a timely county disclosure: the SDLA ITO workflow

This workflow builds the 30-day notice into the financing calendar. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the inputs become the outputs in 9 steps.

SDLA ITO: 9 steps. Input: financing plan; repayment schedule; county disclosure form. Transformation: show ability to repay; send the notice; address county comments. Output: filed disclosure; board approval; updated MYP.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers show ability to repay; send the notice; address county comments; Output delivers filed disclosure; board approval; updated MYP. Notify at least 30 days before board approval.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Implementation workflow

  1. Financing planningSet the board date.Count back at least 30 days for the notice.
  2. 30+ days before approvalNotify.Send the notice and repayment information to the county superintendent and auditor.
  3. Within 15 days of receiptCounty comment window.Review and respond to any county comments.
  4. Board meetingApprove.Board acts after the notice period with county comments on record.

Non-voter-approved debt checklist

  • Board date set at least 30 days after the notice.
  • Repayment schedule and source documented.
  • Notice sent to both the county superintendent and the county auditor.
  • County comments addressed and shared with the board.

Official guidance and help

Source review completed October 25, 2026. Verify your county office's disclosure form and whether it applies to refundings.