In the described budget process, what is the final action before the budget is enacted?

• A. The Board of Education votes to approve the final budget
• B. The county approves the budget
• C. The superintendent signs the budget into law
• D. Principals implement the budget

Answer: (C)

The action that makes the budget officially binding is the superintendent’s signature. Once the board has approved the budget, the superintendent signs it to give formal, legal authorization for the plan to take effect. This sign-off moves the budget from an approved plan into enforceable policy with real allocations and commitments. The board’s vote is an essential earlier step, but not the final act. The county’s approval is outside the district’s internal process, and principals implementing the budget happens after it’s enacted, not before.