Dearest reader,
Lady B is adding a NEW step to the ledger!
📊 STEP 1A: ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURES
For this step, I'm turning to Michigan Department of Education Bulletin 1011 to examine how much school districts actually spend on administration.
And my first stop is Fowlerville Community Schools in Livingston County.
Let's follow the money. 🔎
💰 THE TEN-YEAR COMPARISON
In 2014–15, Fowlerville reported $2,499,635 in combined administrative expenditures.
By 2024–25, that figure had climbed to $3,278,146.
That's an increase of $778,510, or 31.14%, over ten years.
But where did that money go?
📚 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
2014–15: $542,055
2024–25: $914,162
Increase: 68.65%
🏫 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
2014–15: $1,606,835
2024–25: $1,817,137
Increase: 13.09%
💼 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
2014–15: $350,745
2024–25: $546,847
Increase: 55.91%
Now, here's where things get interesting.
General administration increased nearly 69%, while school administration increased just 13%.
And remember what we learned in Step 1?
Fowlerville's student enrollment declined 16.50% during this same period.
So, fewer students, but higher administrative expenditures.
However, there's another important piece of the puzzle.
Administrative spending increased 31.14%, while total operating expenditures increased 38.44%.
That means administration's share of operating expenditures actually DECREASED, from 10.35% to 9.81%.
And that's why I believe looking at the complete picture matters.
💬 HERE'S MY QUESTION:
When reviewing a school district's finances, should taxpayers focus on how much administrative spending has increased, or how much of the overall budget administration consumes?
Or perhaps both?
These figures represent General Fund administrative expenditures, not simply administrator salaries. The increases are nominal and have not been adjusted for inflation.
An increase alone doesn't establish waste, just as a declining budget percentage doesn't automatically establish efficiency.
But understanding where public dollars are going is always worth the effort.
One district. Two fiscal years. Ten years of change.
With receipts and respect. 💙
#LadyBudgetdown #FowlervilleCommunitySchools #LivingstonCounty #MichiganSchools #SchoolFinance #AdministrativeSpending #EducationTransparency #PublicEducation #TaxpayerAccountability #FollowTheReceipts