Dearest reader,
We have looked at Trenton Public Schools' finances. We have looked at staffing. Now let us take a peek at compensation.
Trenton's own 2025 transparency report lists 47 employees with more than $100,000 in Medicare wages.
Those 47 employees received a combined:
💰 $8,670,420.68 in total compensation.
And remember, "total compensation" is more than wages. The district's report includes Medicare wages, retirement, fringe benefits and FICA in that figure.
A few administrative positions caught Lady Budgetdown's eye:
👑 Superintendent
$183,308.69 Medicare wages
$305,922.37 total compensation
📚 Director – Curriculum
$148,363.42 Medicare wages
$248,343.00 total compensation
👥 Director – HR
$139,257.80 Medicare wages
$229,363.09 total compensation
💼 Business Manager
$139,110.47 Medicare wages
$205,365.35 total compensation
Now, a little context matters here.
The 47 are not all administrators. Trenton's $100,000+ list also contains teachers, principals, social workers, special-education staff and other positions. This is simply the number of district employees whose Medicare wages exceeded $100,000 in calendar year 2025.
But when we place this receipt beside the ones we have already collected, the picture becomes more interesting.
Over the decade, Trenton's pupil count declined 2.63%. Total staffing increased 38.42%. District/central administration increased 28.57%. And our first set of receipts showed average teacher salary losing substantial purchasing power after inflation.
One receipt rarely tells the whole story.
But several receipts laid beside one another?
Well, dear reader... that is why we keep following the breadcrumbs. 🪶
Source: Trenton Public Schools, Employee Compensation over $100,000 (Medicare Wages), Calendar Year 2025.
With receipts and respect.
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