Fiscal Responsibility — YES on B and E
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Fiscal Responsibility

 
In this challenging economy, it's more important than ever to have confidence in how our school district manages its budget. Maintaining academic excellence when state and local budgets are strained to the breaking point is no easy task.  The strategic decisions made by our resourceful PUSD administration and our hard-working volunteer school board  -- together with our committed and engaged parent community -- are what ensure that Piedmont children receive a first-class public education.

 

How you can tell that the PUSD school district is well managed? 

 

  • Headcount has been flat over 7 years. Personnel costs account for approximately 90% of PUSD's budget. Headcount has been carefully controlled and has remained flat over the last seven years, consistent with the relatively flat enrollment over the K-12 program.

  • Administrative costs are at the low end for comparable districts. PUSD spent 6.6% on administrative costs in 2008; administrative costs for similar size districts in California ranged from 5% to 10%.

  • Teacher salaries are in line for Alameda County. Teacher salaries grew by approximately 30% over the last seven years (an average of 4.3% per year), in line with California COLA increases of approximately 25%

    • The average teacher salary in 2008 was $69,703 versus $67,625 for Alameda County, reflective of the higher average years of service by PUSD's teachers. The midpoint between the lowest and highest salary paid by PUSD of $64,198 was lower than both Alameda County unified school districts ($67,889) and all California unified districts ($69,393).

  • The district has continued to deliver an outstanding public education with insufficient State revenue, thanks to community support. Growth in total revenue from state and federal sources over the seven year period 2001 through 2008 averaged less than 2%, significantly less than cost of living increases.  PUSD relies on community support through the parcel tax to fund this gap.  Without such local support, PUSD's revenue per student would be approximately 20% below the California average of $8,830 for 2008.

  • District financials are reviewed annually by an independent auditor. PUSD is subject to ongoing financial oversight, including reports to the Board of Education and the Alameda County of Education (liaison to the California Department of Education) at least quarterly. In addition, an annual audit is conducted by an independent accounting firm specializing in school district finances. The auditors have vouched for the school’s responsible financial management.

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