Schools Lose / Business Services Gains in 2004-2005 MMSD Budget

The recently approved budget was a winner for some and a loser for other MMSD Departments, most notably funding for schools. The 2004-2005 budget approved on May 17, 2004 is $308 million.

A. Budget Winners - Increases Over Previous Year's Budget
Business Services 7%
General Administration 6%
Educational Services (spec. ed/bilingual) 1%

Business Services and General Administration increased $3.8 million

B. Budget Losers - Decreases Over Previous Year's Budget
Elementary Education -1%
w/o Assist. Supt. Office -2%
Secondary Education -1%
w/o Assist. Supt. Office -2%

The Elementary and Secondary school budgets with direct teaching to students decreased $1.4 million.

When there is no money, shouldn't all increases in spending first to to instruction - the children? Why are we seeing increases in Business Services when there are decreases in 130 teachers and new school fees? Why did the School Board approve more than $500,000 increases in salaries and wages for administrative contracts just minutes before authorizing the reduction of 130 teachers and $300,000 in new fees? Robarts, Vang, and Winston were right to vote against a budget that does not put the education of Madison's children first. The majority of Board members (Carstensen, Clingan, Keys and Lopez) voted for these changes. Why?

Complete comparison can be downloaded: Download file

Note: The MMSD budget document notes that due to a new accounting system put into place that enters actual salaries vs. average salaries the 02-03 expenditures and 03-04 budget have crosswalk variances to the 04-05 budget. Contact the Business Services office with any specific questions.

Posted by at May 20, 2004 12:13 AM
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