Clarkston Community Schools expects to spend almost $10,000 on each of its students next year.
The Board of Education voted unanimously, June 23, to approve the 2008-2009 budget, with $80.8 million in spending.
The budget includes $77 million in revenue, most of which will come from the state. Funded by local residential property taxes, the state is expected to provide $7,546 for each of Clarkston’s 8,154 students, for a total of about $54.4 million, pending final legislative budget, said Bruce Beamer, executive director for business services.
Other major revenue includes $8.6 million from 18-mill non-homestead taxes on businesses and second homes, down 6.26 percent from last year; $4.7 million from the federal government in regular funding and grants for special education; $8.5 million from Oakland Intermediate School District, also for special education; and $4.0 million from the state and county for the district’s Autism Program.
Revenue is expected to grow by about $1.5 million, 2 percent, from last year’s $75.5 million to $77 million. Spending, however, is expected to grow by $3.3 million to $80.8 million, 4.3 percent over last year’s $77.5 million.
Most spending, about $68.1 million, are for salaries and benefits for the district’s approximately 1,044 teachers and staff, a cost rising about $2 million per year.
The school board previously approved cutting 11.4 full-time teacher positions from the budget, saving $570,000. Forty teachers received layoff notices in April. Nineteen have so far been recalled, including eight at Monday’s meeting, leaving 21 with uncertain futures. The budget’s difference of $3.8 million will be come from the district fund balance of $11.1 million, Beamer said.
The budget process began in November, with parameters set by the school board in January. Next year’s budget process should start earlier to give administration more time to balance the budget, said board Vice President Barry Bomier.
Beamer agreed.
“With the economy the way it is, property values going down, all this affects revenue sources,” Beamer said. “The budget should be on the agenda in August.”
Parameters this year included $1.96 million in cuts, steady non-homestead taxes and enrollment, $100 increase in state aid per pupil, 1.5 percent pay raises plus 3 percent step increases, 5 percent increase in healthcare costs, 0.7 percent more in retirement costs, and 10 percent fund equity.