Washtenaw County schools lay out budget projections for next year

ANN ARBOR, MI – Washtenaw County school districts are heading into a different budgeting landscape in 2022-23, with the anticipated drop-off of federal funding that bolstered budgets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Michigan’s public schools required to pass a balanced budget by July 1, six of Washtenaw County’s nine districts have laid out smaller budgets than they had in 2021-22, primarily due to having fewer federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to allocate.

Most county districts, however, anticipate state revenues to be buoyed by a $435 per-student increase proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in February, which would up their state foundation allowance to $9,135 per student.

The state budget – including allocations for education – doesn’t have to be finalized until Oct. 1, leaving some guesswork for school districts in making financial plans for the coming year. Schools often amend their budgets throughout the year as more financial information becomes available.

Here is an overview of the 2022-23 budget projections for Washtenaw County’s nine traditional public school districts.

Ann Arbor Public Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $278,725,150 (decrease from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $435 per student foundation allowance increase, flat enrollment for 2022-23, special education and at-risk funding increases.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $282,418,909 (decrease from 2021-22)

Expense considerations: Additional supports for student mental health, maintaining nursing staff levels, adding social workers, attracting and retaining qualified staff.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $21,455,022

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $17,761,263

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 6.37%

The Ann Arbor School Board will vote on the 2022-23 budget after a second public hearing on Wednesday, June 22.

Chelsea School District

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $32,438,066 (decrease from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $435 per student foundation allowance increase; anticipated enrollment decrease of 30 students.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $33,102,284 (decrease from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: Pay scale changes for administrators, support staff, supervisors and maintenance, as well as the removal of all retention stipends.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $6,222,636

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $5,558,418

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 16.79%

The Chelsea School Board will vote on the proposed 2022-23 budget at 6:30 pm June 27.

Dexter Community Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $48,144,329 (decrease from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $435 per student foundation allowance increase and a 105-student increase.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $48,407,869 (decrease from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: 1% wage increase across all employee groups, with all bargaining group contracts currently in negotiations and set to expire as of June 30.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $12,046,731

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $11,030,652

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 22.2%

The Dexter School Board approved the district’s 2022-23 budget on Monday, June 20.

Lincoln Consolidated Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $56,077,663 (decrease from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $435 per student foundation allowance increase, flat enrollment projection and $4 million in one-time ESSER III funding.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $56,041,020 (decrease from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: Payroll decreases from unfilled positions, operations and maintenance increases to account for HVAC/parking lot repair and utilities projections.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $6,231,673

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $6,266,316

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 11.18%

The district’s school board will vote on approval of the 2022-23 budget at 6 pm Monday, June 27.

Manchester Community Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $10,994,329 (increase from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $435 per student foundation allowance increase, loss of 14 students, increase in grant funds for ESSER III and Section 11t funding.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $11,411,517 (increase from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: Increase in staffing expenditures and continued retention efforts, increased maintenance needs costs for roof repairs that were approved but held off last year and needed Klager asphalt repairs.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $1,547,774

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $1,130,587

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 10.28%

The Manchester School Board approved its 2022-23 budget during its Monday, June 20 meeting.

Milan Area Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $28,408,779 (decrease from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $400 per student foundation allowance increase, anticipated enrollment decrease of 11 students from February count.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $30,476,657 (increase from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: Assumed 10% increase in healthcare premiums, reinstatement of professional development budget, reinstatement of budget for non-special education social worker.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $3,948,582

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $1,880,704

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 6.17%

The Milan School Board approved its budget during its June 7 meeting.

Saline Area Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $67,574,339 (decrease from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $435 per student foundation allowance increase, anticipated enrollment decrease of 100 students.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $67,658,138 (decrease from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: New teacher contract, step increases, replacement of 21 teachers, loss of two middle school and two high school teachers and increase in utility costs.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $9,454,530

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $9,371,687

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 13.99%

The Saline School Board approved its budget during its June 14 meeting.

Whitmore Lake Public Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $12,822,362 (increase from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: N/A

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $12,816,312 (increase from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: N/A

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $1,063,331

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $1,069,381

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 8.34%

Whitmore Lake’s school board will vote to adopt its 2022-23 budget Monday, June 27.

Ypsilanti Community Schools

Estimated revenue for 2022-23: $84,717,328 (increase from 2021-22)

Revenue considerations: $435 per student foundation allowance increase, loss of seven students, carryover of ESSER funds.

Estimated expenses for 2022-23: $84,693,603 (increase from 2021-22)

Expenditure considerations: Step pay increases for teachers.

Fund balance as of July 1, 2022: $7,349,636

Anticipated fund balance as of July 1, 2023: $7,373,360

Fund balance percentage of total operating costs: 8.7%

The Ypsilanti School Board approved its budget on Monday, June 20.

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