Annual Report 2005-2006 - Farmington Public Schools

Goal 4: To maintain financialstabilityOver the last several years, the District has taken a very proactive approach to budgeting with therealization that state funding has been limited. Approximately $13 million dollars in revenueenhancements, efficiencies and cost reductions have been implemented over the last four years.The District has been very fortunate to use a portion of its “rainy day fund” to help stave off evengreater reductions that need to be made. However, with costs continuing to rise andrevenues mostly flat, it is expected that expenditures will continue to outpace revenues overthe next several years. Farmington Public Schools is not alone in facing these challenges.Last year, the District formed budget work groups to study programs and serviceswith a view that it needed a long-term plan that recognizes the limited availability offunds.The District Budget Committee met numerous times during the school year.The Committee actively participated in the budget work group forum held forparents and community members in January and was instrumental in thedevelopment of the budget plans for the 2006-2007 school year.The District’s Central Office Team met with employees and parents at eachbuilding site in order to convey the seriousness of the District’s budget positionand to gather questions about the budget. Budget Q and A’s weredeveloped and posted on the District’s web site.The Business Services Department continues to meet with the FinancialStrategies Committee to review budget and financial statement and makerecommendations concerning District needs for maintaining and improvingDistrict buildings and sites. This year, the Committee provided arecommendation to the Board of Education on ballot language for the millagerenewal and reviewed the financial condition of the District, as well as theforecasted budget shortfall, the capital projects listing and proposed reductionlist.In May 2006, voters passed the District’s millage renewal proposal. Theentire operational millage expires with the December 2006 levy. The millagerenewal is for funds needed each year for ongoing school programs, such as staff,supplies, utilities, buses, etc. The renewal is to maintain current revenues; it will notprovide for new initiatives.North Farmington High School students perform at the 1960s-stylecoffeehouse. The coffeehuse was part North’s dynamicinterdisciplinary study of the Sixties.The District continues to look for ways to increase revenues. The District renewedits agreement with Mercy High School for bus maintenance and made an agreement withDetroit Catholic High School to maintain their buses as well.FPS Parent/Community Survey - 20059By a 75 percent majority, respondents offered a “positive” rating onhow the District manages school finances.