In 2010, the MCPS enrollment was 144,064. The FY 2010 Operating Budget was $2,078,967,001.
Here's what the changes in the enrollment and Operating Budget look like over the last 9 years when plotted on on a graph.
There are lots of ways these changes could be plotted, this is just one version. If you would like to make up your own version, submit it to us and we will post it.
Deceptive graph. The zero line is about an inch below the bottom. Makes it look like the budget increased by more than 300% when actually it increases by about 70%. Inflation was 21% during those years -- a 2009 dollar is worth .82 2001 dollars, but one student is still one student.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Thanks! Then please submit the graph that you think is better.
ReplyDeleteBottom line is that enrollment has fluctuated over the 9 years with some growth while the Operating Budget has nearly doubled. Show us that in a non-deceptive way! Thanks!
Here, I will help you out. Here are enrollment numbers:
ReplyDelete2001 - 136,832
2002 - 138,832
2003 - 138,891
2004 - 139,203
2005 - 139,337
2006 - 137,798
2007 - 137,745
2008 - 139,276
2009- 141,777
2010- 144,064
And here are budget numbers up to FY 2009:
ReplyDeletehttp://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2010/07/mcps-enrollment-forecast-off-by-5525.html
FY 2010 was $2,078,967,001
Looking forward to your chart!
And DE, please plot the Operating Budget growth in relation to the growth in inflation. That will be interesting to see.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I am curious to see a revised graph too. All you'd really need to do is multiply each year's budget number by its percentage of a 2009 dollar (I assume there is no way to know that info for 2010 dollars). Would also like to see a dollar scale on the left!
ReplyDeleteI have posted a different presentation at http://bit.ly/gq4Zpf - this presents it as dollars per student, inflation-adjusted, with a annual percentage change. This tells a slightly different story for recent years, though it's grim in its own way. A 6% inflation-adjusted increase (2007) is pretty extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteGary,
ReplyDeleteYour graph doesn't relate the money to the enrollment fluctuations, right? And you aren't using the total per student number, why not?
Why aren't you using the total per student expenditure?
I displayed constant 2001 dollars, so these figures are discounted for inflation. I also think there are probably methodology differences in how per-pupil expenditure is calculated (I just divided the operating budget by enrollment, but there's a timing mismatch and quite possibly an expenditure mismatch). Close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades.
ReplyDeleteOK - thanks. Now I am seeing what you were working with.
ReplyDeleteFor reference here are the raw per pupil expenditure numbers from FY 04 - FY10 from the WABE guide:
ReplyDeleteFY04 $10,644
FY05 $12,108
FY06 $12,549
FY07 $13,446
FY08 $14,705
FY09 $15,252
FY10 $15,490