CARROLLTON: WHEN THE STAFFING LEDGER MEETS THE BUDGET
Dearest readers, sometimes one page of the ledger doesn't tell us very much.
But when several pages start pointing in the same direction, your Lady starts asking questions. 👑🪶
We've already looked at ten years of enrollment and staffing at Carrollton Public Schools.
From 2014–15 to 2024–25:
Pupils: −1.96%
Teachers: −13.3%
Total administrators: +39.5%
District/central administrators: +127.8%
Read that last one again.
While enrollment remained relatively stable, teacher FTE declined by 13.3%, while district/central administrative FTE more than doubled.
By itself, that doesn't tell us whether those staffing decisions were right or wrong. Positions change. Responsibilities change. Student needs change.
But now we have another page of the ledger.
Carrollton's June 2026 revised budget projects approximately $30.27 million in General Fund revenue against $33.52 million in expenditures.
That's a projected operating deficit of approximately $3.25 million.
And the fund balance tells another part of the story.
Carrollton estimated approximately $9.8 million in General Fund balance entering 2024–25.
The June 2026 budget revision projects approximately $5.73 million remaining at June 30, 2026.
That's roughly $4.07 million less — about a 41.5% decline over that two-year span.
Carrollton has responded with what the district calls a Debt Reduction Plan.
And that's where the staffing ledger becomes particularly relevant.
During that process, the Board considered eliminating full-time administrative positions at the middle and high schools and chose not to do so, requiring reductions elsewhere.
So I'm not going to tell you what conclusion to reach.
I'm going to ask the question the numbers leave sitting on my desk:
With enrollment down only 1.96% over the decade, why did Carrollton reduce teacher FTE by 13.3% while total administrative FTE increased 39.5% — including a 127.8% increase in district/central administration?
And now that Carrollton is addressing a projected $3.25 million operating deficit:
How much of the Debt Reduction Plan comes from classrooms versus administration?
That's not an accusation.
That's a budget question.
And it's a question worth answering. 🪶
With receipts & respect. 👑
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