BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS: THE 10-YEAR LOOK

Lady Budgetdown is back in Oakland County, and this time the ledger is open on Birmingham Public Schools (District 63010). Same source. Same decade. Same methodology.

Using Michigan Department of Education Bulletin 1014, here is what changed from 2014-15 to 2024-25:

👥 Average pupil count
8,208 → 7,350.22
Down 857.78 pupils - 10.45%

💰 All Sources Revenue per pupil
$14,146 → $20,412
Up 44.3%
After inflation: +6.2%

📚 Instruction per pupil
$8,659 → $12,913
Up 49.1%
After inflation: +9.8%

📝 Instructional Support per pupil
$1,942 → $2,914
Up 50.1%
After inflation: +10.5%

🏛� Business & Administration per pupil
$1,576 → $2,065
Up 31.0%
After inflation: −3.5%

🔧 Operations & Maintenance per pupil
$1,137 → $2,116
Up 86.1%
After inflation: +37.0%

🍎 Average teacher salary
$75,846 → $92,607
Up 22.1% nominally - but down 10.1% after inflation.

That last comparison matters.

Over this decade, Birmingham served about 10.5% fewer pupils. At the same time, per-pupil revenue increased faster than inflation, as did spending on instruction and instructional support.

The largest increase among the categories reviewed was Operations & Maintenance: +86.1% nominally and +37.0% after inflation.

Meanwhile, average teacher salary increased in dollars, but did not keep pace with the 35.83% cumulative increase in CPI-U over the comparison period.

That doesn't tell us whether every dollar was spent wisely or poorly.

It tells us where the numbers moved.

And that's where Lady Budgetdown always starts.

📌 Source: Michigan Department of Education, Bulletin 1014

📌 Comparison: 2014-15 vs. 2024-25

📌 Inflation adjustment: CPI-U, cumulative increase of approximately 35.83%

👑 Same ruler. Same methodology. Same receipts.

With receipts & respect. 🪶