Birmingham Schools' Deficit Cut by $4.5 Million

The Birmingham Board of Education voted Tuesday night to amend the district's 2011-12 general appropriations budget, reflecting a mid-year adjustment with a better-than-expected financial outlook.

In total, as part of the district's amended budget, the general budget deficit was reduced from $6.6 million to $2.1 million.

"2011-12 was much better than we anticipated," said Deborah Piesz, assistant superintendent of business services.

The biggest budget reductions came from a decrease in salaries and benefits, as well as an 18 percent reduction in utility bills, a figure that can be attributed to the unusually warm winter so far and smart energy management, Piesz said.

Projected revenues for the district increased by 0.9 percent in the first six months of the 2011-12 school year, or $883,498. This increase is attributed to more state funding, a jump in enrollment, as well as adjusted Medicaid reimbursements through Oakland Schools.

The revenue scene hasn't been all positive, Piesz said. Birmingham schools saw a descrease in local revenue sources, including revenue from property taxes, summer school tuition and rental fees from the Japanese School of Detroit, which moved out of last year.

On top of increasing revenues, the district spent less than budgeted during the first six months of the 2011-12 school year.

The district amended its projected expenditures for the year, bringing the final figure to $103,644,729. That's $3 million, or 3.4 percent, less than originally projected.

Stay tuned to Patch for more on the Tuesday night meeting of the Birmingham Board of Education.