Those of you who handle budgeting tasks for your agency may be
wondering how things will change after STAARS is implemented. Well, here
is one major improvement: you will no longer have to work in more than
one system to get these tasks done. The STAARS Budgeting application
will become the focal point for performing all budgeting tasks. You will
be able to use salary and benefit forecasting tools in STAARS to
estimate personnel costs, and then use other features to develop and
submit budget requests, perform operations planning, and report on
performance measures. You will also use STAARS to revise your operations
plans throughout the year. If you work at a postsecondary institution
and have had to submit budget requests and operations plans manually,
you will be able to use STAARS to submit them electronically.
Since
information in STAARS Budgeting is shared with the STAARS Financials
and Personnel applications, actual expenditures from the financial
side—as well as employee, position, salary, and benefit information—will
be at your fingertips when you are developing budget requests. Your
department will be given more visibility and control in moving and
tracking budget forms through the approval process. Access to historical
information and reporting tools will help you answer questions more
quickly and specifically. (Interesting note: the standard STAARS
Budgeting reports are being designed using current forms as a guideline,
so new reports will look similar to ones you are familiar with.)
The
STAARS Budgeting rollout will have no impact on the budget calendar.
For more information about getting prepared for these activities, see
STAARS Budgeting Rollout and Training: What to Expect.