This guide is intended for district business officials (DBOs). DBOs will be responsible for completing and submitting their district’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Eligibility Budget Form to the ISD business official for review.

DBOs can use both the video below and the how-to on this page for more information on how to complete this work.

What is Maintenance of Effort?

The Maintenance of Effort Eligibility Test requires ISDs provide the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) anticipated expenditures, exceptions, and other adjustments (if necessary) to demonstrate that the ISD will maintain the appropriate level of fiscal expenditure (effort) in the upcoming school year. For the ISD to have accurate information about anticipated expenditures, member districts must first submit their anticipated expenditures to the ISD.

Access the MOE Eligibility Budget Form

  1. District business officials will receive an email notification when the MOE Eligibility Budget Form becomes available in Catamaran.
  2. Log in to Catamaran.
  3. The MOE Eligibility Budget Form activity will appear on the Tasks Overview on the Dashboard page. Select the Activity link.
MOE Eligibility budget form link
  1. On the MOE Eligibility Budget Form Menu, select the Eligibility Budget Form link.

Complete MOE Eligibility Budget Form

  1. Using the fields on the MOE Eligibility Budget Form, anticipate the amounts the district will submit in the upcoming school year.
Note: District business officials must enter anticipated amounts to be reported in the upcoming year, not amounts reported on in the past. Referencing the most recently completed reports can assist in determining anticipated future amounts.

Reference SE-4096 District Summary Report As Needed

In order to accurately estimate the amounts for the upcoming school year, it may be helpful to reference the same fields on the most recently completed SE-4096 District Summary Report. A visual guide to locating each figure on the SE-4096 is provided in this section.

A. Page 1, Section 52: Line Subtotal – Instructional & Support, Total Cost

The SE-4096 Report Summary, highlighting Page 1, Section 52: Line Subtotal – Instructional & Support, Total Cost

B. Page 2, Section 53a: Line Subtotal – Instructional & Support, Total Cost

The SE-4096 Report Summary, highlighting Page 2, Section 53a: Line Subtotal – Instructional & Support, Total Cost

After estimating each of the above figures, the anticipated SE-4096 will calculate automatically on the page. The SE-4096 amount from the comparison year (two years prior to the year being tested) is provided as an additional reference point.

Reference SE-4094 Transportation Expenditures Report As Needed

In order to accurately estimate the amounts for the upcoming school year, it may be helpful to reference the same fields on the most recently completed SE-4094 Transportation Expenditures report. A visual guide to locating each figure on the SE-4094 is provided in this section.

A. Bus Amortization (Line 29), Section 52 Expenditures (Column 4)
B. Bus Amortization (Line 29), Section 53a Expenditure (Column 6)
C. Total Expenditures (Line 30), Section 52 (Column 4)
D. Total Expenditures (Line 30), Section 53a (Column 6)

total expenditures

After estimating each of the above figures, the anticipated SE-4094 will calculate automatically on the page. The SE-4094 amount from the comparison year (two years prior to the year being tested) is provided as an additional reference point.

Submit to the ISD

  1. When the form is complete, select Submit to ISD to send the MOE Eligibility Budget Form to the ISD for review.

Next Steps

Next, an ISD business official will review this information. If the ISD business official determines modifications are required, they will return the MOE Eligibility Budget Form to the district. Comments from the ISD business official will appear at the bottom of the page.

Need Assistance?

If you need assistance understanding how to navigate Catamaran, please contact the Catamaran Help Desk at 877-474-9023 or help@catamaran.partners.