Budget, Accounting and Reporting (BAR) Council Bylaws

Article I – Authority

The Budget, Accounting and Reporting Council (BAR) exists under the authority of the Business Affairs Commission (BAC) of the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC).

Article II – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Budget, Accounting and Reporting Council (BAR).

Article III – Purpose

The purpose of the BAR is to provide an organizational structure through which community and technical colleges personnel can function in matters dealing with policies or procedures relative to the budget, accounting and reporting of community technical college financial matters.

Activities and area of concern may include:

  1. Act on matters referred by BAC.
  2. Provide opportunities for members and associates to meet and exchange information and ideas.
  3. To work with agencies such as the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Office of Financial Management, State Auditor’s Office and others with an interest in the financial concerns of the community and technical colleges.
  4. Provide training and professional development opportunities.
  5. To develop and recommend uniform procedures to be followed by the member institutions in financial affairs when such uniformity is mutually useful.
  6. Establish sub-committees on any specific tasks or goals as required.
  7. To consider any other subjects which may concern the financial operations of the community and technical colleges.

Article IV – Member and Representative

Membership of the BAR shall be made up of:

One voting member appointed by each community college, technical college, or district’s BAC or WACTC member. 

  1. One member, either the outgoing BAR chair or another member appointed by the BAR chair, shall on approval of the BAC serve as liaison between BAR and the BAC .
  2. Non-voting members may be designated by districts and colleges. A college member may vote in the absence of their respective voting member when authorized.
  3. Other non-voting members may be representatives from state agencies and other related organizations.

Article V – Officers

The officers and their duties shall be:

  1. Chair – Responsible for the orderly conduct of BAR meetings, organization of the meeting agenda, coordination of meeting dates and location. Represent the BAR by written correspondence and attendance at other meetings as may be appropriate. In the chair’s absence, the chair-elect shall assume these responsibilities. 
  2. Chair-Elect – Responsible to assume the duties of the chair in his/her absence, and assist the chair in other matters related to the function of the BAR. Upon election of a new chair-elect, he/she shall become the chair, the chair-elect shall be elected from the general membership.
  3. Secretary – Responsible for recording and publishing the minutes of each BAR meeting, maintaining records of each meeting including correspondence and handouts, and a current roster. The secretary shall be elected from the general membership .
  4. Treasurer – Responsible for the collaboration, disbursement and reporting all of the funds related to BAR functions.  The treasurer shall be elected from the general membership .

One District cannot hold more than one BAR officer position at a time. Officers shall be nominated first by the nominating committee named in this Article, and secondly, from the floor by any voting member of the BAR. The nominating committee shall consist of the chair, the immediate past chair and one member at large selected by the other two-committee members.

Elections shall be held at the last meeting of each fiscal year or at interim dates to fill vacancies.  The term of each office shall be one year commencing on July 1.

Article VI – Procedures

  1. Questions and decisions shall be decided by a majority vote of the quorum of the voting members or designees. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members or designees. 
  2. The BAR shall meet at least one time each year and at such other times as is necessary to accomplish the work of the BAR.
  3. The BAR shall establish such standing rules as it deems necessary.
  4. The BAR shall establish such permanent or ad hoc committees which are required to carry on its work.  Committees shall be established by the chair from the membership of the BAR.
  5. In the absence of any bylaw or written policy directing otherwise, Robert’s Rules of Order-Newly Revised shall prevail.

Article VII – Amendments and Suspension

These bylaws may be amended at any scheduled meeting of the BAR in accordance with Article VI – Quorum Requirements, a simple majority of voting members or designees, and upon approval of the BAC.  However, these bylaws may be suspended by a three-fourths (3/4) majority of the voting members, or designees, present. An approved suspension is valid only for the meeting during which the suspension was granted.