Dearest reader,

Our next stop is Jefferson Schools in Monroe County. 📚

As always, Step 1 starts with the same question: What changed over the last decade?

From 2014-15 to 2024-25:

📉 Pupil FTE fell 30.17%, from 1,969.00 to 1,375.04.

Meanwhile, per-pupil dollars moved quite a bit:

• All-sources revenue: +52.75% nominal / +17.58% after inflation 
• Total instruction: +22.35% nominal / −12.82% after inflation 
• Instructional support: +21.74% nominal / −13.43% after inflation 
• Business & administration: +40.36% nominal / +5.19% after inflation 
• Operations & maintenance: +106.56% nominal / +71.39% after inflation

And average teacher salary?

$58,080 → $60,184.

That's an increase of just 3.62% over ten years, which becomes −31.55% when compared with the cumulative inflation adjustment used in this series.

No conclusions from Lady B. The purpose of Step 1 is to put the same ten-year measurements side by side and let readers see where the numbers moved.

The ledger is open. 📖

Next up: Step 2 — staffing.

#LadyBudgetdown #WithReceiptsAndRespect #JeffersonSchools #MonroeCounty #MichiganSchools #MichiganEducation #SchoolFinance #PublicEducation #EducationTransparency #SchoolSpending #FollowTheMoney