This category is a subtotal of the spending on student support, instructional staff support, general administration, school administration, operations and maintenance, student transportation and the “other support services” discussed in the previous section. This category does not include spending on instruction and food services.
Locale groups’ spending on all support services follows the trend prevalent in many of the individual expenditure categories: In 2010, the city locale group spent the most both in per-pupil terms (see Graphic 25) and as a percent of total operational spending (see Graphic 26). This group spent at least 35 percent more per pupil than any other major locale group in 2010. Per-pupil spending on all support services increased in all four locale groups, however. On average, city districts increased this spending the most (15 percent), followed by rural districts (9 percent).
Graphic 25: School District All Support Services Expenditures per Pupil by Locale Group, Michigan, Fiscal Years 2004-2010
Source: Local Education Agency Universe Survey; Michigan Department of Education, Data for National Public Education Financial Survey
Among the 12 subgroups in 2010, the distant town subgroup spent the least per pupil on support services, at $3,071, while DPS spent the most, at $6,571. The midsize suburb, remote town and fringe town subgroups generated the lowest per-pupil spending increases in this category from 2004 to 2010 — 6 percent, 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively. DPS increased spending per pupil on all support services by 36 percent, more than double the percentage increase of any other locale subgroup.[*]
The portion of operating expenditures devoted to all support services declined from 2004 to 2010 in all four major locales. The town and suburban locale groups produced the largest decline by this measure, with 6 percent reductions, while the city locale group generated the smallest, a 2 percent decline. Among the 12 subgroups in 2010, the percentage of operational spending dedicated to support services ranged from 32 percent in the remote rural and distant town subgroups to 42 percent in DPS. From 2004 to 2010, the fringe town subgroup reduced the portion of operating expenditures for all support services by 8 percent, the most of any of the locale subgroups.[†]
Graphic 26: School District All Support Services Expenditures as a Percent of Operating Expenditures by Locale Group, Michigan, Fiscal Years 2004-2010
Source: Local Education Agency Universe Survey; Michigan Department of Education, Data for National Public Education Financial Survey
[*] See Appendix B, Graphic 51.
[†] See Appendix B, Graphic 52.