Ann Arbor school district budget starts to show effects of state aid cuts
In many ways, the presentation of the Ann Arbor school district’s first quarter financial report was a scene setter for what’s to come.
That’s because big changes in the revenue the district is getting and the cuts in expenses the district is going to be making won’t start showing up until next quarter at the earliest.
The district’s finance team spent about a half an hour Tuesday afternoon briefing a school board committee on the district’s first-quarter finances.
The full board will be asked its next meeting to amend the budget for this school year to reduce the revenue side by slightly over $3,000,000 and increase the expense side by $10,000.
The big chunk of the change on the revenue side is nearly $2.7 million in lost revenue from a $165 cut in per-pupil state aid. There’s also a $350,000 cut in investment income.The revenue reduction is just the first of a total of three big negative changes coming to the district’s budget.
The other two? A $233 cut in what’s called 20J per-pupil funding from the state and another $127 per-pupil cut in state aid.
The district hasn’t seen any checks yet from the state with the latter two cuts. Those are expected to be seen in the December, Robert Allen, the district’s deputy superintendent for operations, said.
There’s going to be similar cuts in the expense side once all the cuts are in, school officials said.
District administrators and the school board will gather on Dec. 3 to talk about what those cuts for this school year will be, Superintendent Todd Roberts said.
The $10,000 increase in expenses this school year is related to professional development expenses, Allen said.
The moves, if adopted by the school board, will make the district’s budgeted revenue for the year $188,940,000 and budgeted expenses of $191,964,560.
David Jesse covers K-12 education for Ann Arbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
DagnyJ
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 11:36 a.m.
Why doesn't AAPS partner with UM for its PD? With a trade of resources? There are ways to do prof dev different and maybe better.
aapswastewatcher.blogspot.com
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 9:08 a.m.
Let start giving the school district non-teacher ideas to cut. Let's cut the administration staff and marketing department--refocus on the kids and teachers and not a fancy marketing and PR program. Race To the Top money is out there if our school district was efficient and innovative enough. Please share your ideas at aapswastewatcher.blogspot.com
DC
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 9 a.m.
Dr. I. Emsayin, Community members had a chance to band together and help. However, they defeated recently a crucial millage that would have really helped districts, including AAPS for the next five years. Although the millage wasn't the perfect solution, it was the best option to keep our districts solvent while the state takes on the over-due task of revamping school funding. I'm glad to see more community interest in learning how Michigan school funding is not keeping pace with what the school districts need to operate all the educational and social programs they're required by law to offer.
David Jesse
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 5:52 p.m.
The district's budget for this school year can be found here: http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/admin.bussvcs/files/0910approvedbudget.pdf
Val Losse
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 5:36 p.m.
How can anyone of us comment on the school budget or any budget since there is no posting of the budget so anyone can review it. As a public institution the budget should be posted on the internet for everyone to see. That goes for the State and the City.
Dr. I. Emsayin
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 5:06 p.m.
I've heard there will be a 16+ million dollar cut for the next school year -- 90 staff, programs.... Let's all get involved in our schools. listen closely, band together and do what we can to help.
a2grateful
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 4:12 p.m.
Obama's school funding assistance sounds pretty good to this alternative... too bad no one in Lansing is listening, or smart enough to know better.