LADY BUDGETDOWN'S SOCIETY PAPERS
Dearest Readers,
Lady Budgetdown has once again opened the ledgers.
This time, our attention turns to Troy School District (63150), where a decade of financial records reveals a rather interesting contrast between the number of students being served and the amount of money being spent.
From 2014–15 to 2024–25:
👥 PUPIL COUNT
12,642 → 12,249
📉 Down approximately 393 students (-3.1%)
Meanwhile...
💰 FUNDING FROM ALL SOURCES
$136.58 MILLION → $190.57 MILLION
📈 Up $53.99 MILLION (+39.5%)
📚 TOTAL INSTRUCTION
$95.73 MILLION → $127.33 MILLION
📈 Up $31.61 MILLION (+33.0%)
🧑�🏫 INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT
$16.38 MILLION → $27.81 MILLION
📈 Up $11.42 MILLION (+69.7%)
🏢 BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATION
$12.44 MILLION → $17.83 MILLION
📈 Up $5.40 MILLION (+43.4%)
🔧 OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
$8.67 MILLION → $14.98 MILLION
📈 Up $6.31 MILLION (+72.7%)
🍎 AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY
$73,622 → $81,669
📈 Up $8,047 (+10.9%)
So, Dearest Readers, the decade can be summarized rather neatly:
📉 Enrollment: -3.1%
💰 Funding: +39.5%
📚 Instruction: +33.0%
🧑�🏫 Instructional Support: +69.7%
🏢 Business & Administration: +43.4%
🔧 Operations & Maintenance: +72.7%
🍎 Average Teacher Salary: +10.9%
And therein lies the question.
While Troy served roughly 393 fewer students, total funding increased by nearly $54 million annually.
Lady Budgetdown does not suggest that every increase is improper.
But when some spending categories rise by nearly 70% or more, while enrollment declines and average teacher salary grows by just 10.9%, one might reasonably ask:
Which priorities grew the fastest, and are those priorities aligned with the needs of students and classrooms?
That is not an accusation.
It is simply what one does when examining the books.
After all, Dear Readers...
Money talks. But budgets speak even louder.
🪶 Lady Budgetdown
Source: Michigan Department of Education, Bulletin 1014, 2014–15 and 2024–25.
Financial totals are approximate and calculated using MDE-reported per-pupil figures multiplied by reported pupil FTE.
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