By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax-Scotts Board of Education adopted the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget showing a projected deficit of $153,302 at its regular meeting June 16.
The cost of education continues to go up.
The 25-26 budget shows estimated revenues at $9,732,784 and estimated expenditures at $9,886,086.
The local school board adopted the 24-25 budget with projected expenditures at $9,287,067; the approved 2023-2024 budget was adopted showing estimated expenditures at $8,345,783; and the proposed 2022-2023 budget showed projected expenditures totaling $7,952,091.
C-S Superintendent of Schools Doug Newington said several areas of increased costs across the entire budget is a driving factor for the deficit. He adds the district will realize increased expense for curriculum, health insurance, teacher steps, staff wages, and added positions.
The C-S superintendent said the District will be adding early elementary classrooms and a new high school math teacher.
Because budget figures change throughout the school year, the projected deficit could be much smaller at the end of the fiscal year.
If the local school district ends the adopted fiscal year budget with a deficit, fund balance money will be used to balance the budget, however the district’s fund balance remains healthy.
The 2025-2026 budget shows an unassigned fund balance of $1,552,987 (15.71%) and total ending fund balance of $1,977,824 (20.01%). Auditors recommend a minimum of 15 percent fund balance.
The 2025-2026 budget was built using a foundation per pupil figure of $10,000 and a blended enrollment figure of 608.
The debt millage will remain at 7.30 mills. The operating millage will be 17.4457 mills.
Newington said the new budget includes 4% salary and wage increases across all areas for non-teaching employees. He adds the current contract with the Climax-Scotts Education Association expires June 30 and negotiations have begun.
The local school district has enjoyed a spike in enrollment since the 2019-2020 school year.
According to school records the district’s enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year was 498, the 2020-2021 school year was 500, the 2021-2022 school year enrollment was 529, the 2022-2023 school year enrollment was 545, the 2023-2024 budget was adopted with a projected enrollment of 543 and the just completed school year budget was developed with an enrollment of 607.
School of Choice, which made up over 30 percent of the district’s enrollment last year and is projected to be over 30 percent again for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, continues to be a critical part of the budget.
According to the State of Michigan Department of Education website, 320 nonresident students were enrolled at C-S for 24-25 and 153 resident students were enrolled in other school districts. The website also notes 278.42 nonresident Full Time Equvalent (FTE) students were enrolled at C-S and 124.08 resident Full Time Equivalent students were enrolled in other school districts.
“We are known for our positive and supportive environment, which has been spreading via word of mouth from our C-S families and our improved communication efforts. We have great participation in our athletic and extracurricular activities. We also have several years of improving our facilities due to the great support of our community and leadership from our board of education,” said Newington.
The Climax-Scotts Board of Education adopted the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget showing a projected deficit of $153,302 at its regular meeting June 16.
The cost of education continues to go up.
The 25-26 budget shows estimated revenues at $9,732,784 and estimated expenditures at $9,886,086.
The local school board adopted the 24-25 budget with projected expenditures at $9,287,067; the approved 2023-2024 budget was adopted showing estimated expenditures at $8,345,783; and the proposed 2022-2023 budget showed projected expenditures totaling $7,952,091.
C-S Superintendent of Schools Doug Newington said several areas of increased costs across the entire budget is a driving factor for the deficit. He adds the district will realize increased expense for curriculum, health insurance, teacher steps, staff wages, and added positions.
The C-S superintendent said the District will be adding early elementary classrooms and a new high school math teacher.
Because budget figures change throughout the school year, the projected deficit could be much smaller at the end of the fiscal year.
If the local school district ends the adopted fiscal year budget with a deficit, fund balance money will be used to balance the budget, however the district’s fund balance remains healthy.
The 2025-2026 budget shows an unassigned fund balance of $1,552,987 (15.71%) and total ending fund balance of $1,977,824 (20.01%). Auditors recommend a minimum of 15 percent fund balance.
The 2025-2026 budget was built using a foundation per pupil figure of $10,000 and a blended enrollment figure of 608.
The debt millage will remain at 7.30 mills. The operating millage will be 17.4457 mills.
Newington said the new budget includes 4% salary and wage increases across all areas for non-teaching employees. He adds the current contract with the Climax-Scotts Education Association expires June 30 and negotiations have begun.
The local school district has enjoyed a spike in enrollment since the 2019-2020 school year.
According to school records the district’s enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year was 498, the 2020-2021 school year was 500, the 2021-2022 school year enrollment was 529, the 2022-2023 school year enrollment was 545, the 2023-2024 budget was adopted with a projected enrollment of 543 and the just completed school year budget was developed with an enrollment of 607.
School of Choice, which made up over 30 percent of the district’s enrollment last year and is projected to be over 30 percent again for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, continues to be a critical part of the budget.
According to the State of Michigan Department of Education website, 320 nonresident students were enrolled at C-S for 24-25 and 153 resident students were enrolled in other school districts. The website also notes 278.42 nonresident Full Time Equvalent (FTE) students were enrolled at C-S and 124.08 resident Full Time Equivalent students were enrolled in other school districts.
“We are known for our positive and supportive environment, which has been spreading via word of mouth from our C-S families and our improved communication efforts. We have great participation in our athletic and extracurricular activities. We also have several years of improving our facilities due to the great support of our community and leadership from our board of education,” said Newington.
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