Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§3483 Working Capital Fund

Title 20 › CHAPTER 48 — DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › SUBCHAPTER IV — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part B — General Administrative Provisions › § 3483

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, with OMB approval, can create a working capital fund for the Department. The fund can be used across years to pay for shared office services that save money and work better, such as a central supply system, messenger and mail and phone services, office space and document copying and graphics, and a central library. The fund’s money comes from appropriations and from the fair value of supplies, equipment, and other assets the Secretary moves into the fund, minus related debts. Department units must pay in advance for supplies and services at rates that match the fund’s costs, including accrued leave and equipment depreciation. The fund also keeps proceeds from selling or exchanging property and from payments for loss or damage. Any surplus beyond the amounts put in must be sent to the Treasury. Stocks, equipment, assets, liabilities, and unpaid obligations for the covered services can be transferred into the fund with OMB approval.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §3483

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment; administrative services included
The Secretary, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is authorized to establish for the Department a working capital fund, to be available without fiscal year limitation, for expenses necessary for the maintenance and operation of such common administrative services as the Secretary shall find to be desirable in the interests of economy and efficiency, including such services as—
(1)a central supply service for stationery and other supplies and equipment for which adequate stocks may be maintained to meet in whole or in part the requirements of the Department and its components;
(2)central messenger, mail, telephone, and other communications services;
(3)office space, central services for document reproduction, and for graphics and visual aids; and
(4)a central library service.
(b)Capital; reimbursement of funds; credit; miscellaneous receipts; transfers
The capital of the fund shall consist of any appropriations made for the purpose of providing working capital and the fair and reasonable value of such stocks of supplies, equipment, and other assets and inventories on order as the Secretary may transfer to the fund, less the related liabilities and unpaid obligations. Such funds shall be reimbursed in advance from available funds of agencies and offices in the Department, or from other sources, for supplies and services at rates that will approximate the expense of operation, including the accrual of annual leave and the depreciation of equipment. The fund shall also be credited with receipts from sale or exchange of property and receipts in payment for loss or damage to property owned by the fund. There shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts any surplus of the fund (all assets, liabilities, and prior losses considered) above the amounts transferred or appropriated to establish and maintain such fund. There shall be transferred to the fund the stocks of supplies, equipment, other assets, liabilities, and unpaid obligations relating to the services which the Secretary determines, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will be performed.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 3483

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110