School Funding Explained
FUNDING GROWTH TOGETHER
School funding can be a difficult topic to explain. It can be hard to understand why schools may have funds to pay teachers but struggle to update their facilities or purchase new equipment. While funding for schools comes from three primary sources including the state, local property taxes, and federal funds these dollars are earmarked for specific purposes in different funds. The short video below helps to explain the funding sources and how they can be used.
OUR COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
At Perry Township Schools, being a good steward of taxpayer dollars is more than a promise—it’s a responsibility we take seriously. Every financial decision is made with two goals in mind:
- Providing students with exceptional educational opportunities.
- Being responsible with the investment made by our taxpayers and homeowners.
That commitment has earned results. For the fifth consecutive year, Perry Township Schools received the highest level of assurance on its annual financial audit conducted by the State of Indiana.
We believe our community deserves transparency. That’s why we’ve created this page—to help you better understand where school funding comes from, how it is allocated, and why certain dollars can only be used for specific purposes.
PERRY TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS BUDGET
Explore how Perry Township Schools allocates funding to support our students, staff and schools.
About 56% of the district’s total budget goes to the Education Fund. This fund supports the people, programs and resources students rely on each day in the classroom.
- Salaries – 67.7%
- Benefits – 24.7%
- Supplies, Equipment, Services – 7.6%
Supports the day-to-day needs that keep our schools running, including technology, furniture and equipment, transportation, maintenance and building repairs.
- Salaries – 39.5% (Includes Transportation, Facilities, Custodial, Maintenance, Technology, Support)
- Benefits – 12.6%
- Supplies, Equipment, Services – 47.9%
Provides additional resources to keep class sizes down, give students extra support and strengthen transportation services. Referendum dollars are not used for school buildings, athletic facilities or new construction.
- Salaries – 66.0% (Teachers, Assistant Principals, Interventionists)
- Benefits – 27.5%
- Transportation – 6.5% (Driver Salaries and Extra Fuel Costs)
Used to repay debt from bonds issued for major district investments, including construction, technology, maintenance and other long-term facility needs.
Used to repay bonds approved through the district’s referendum.
WHERE DOES SCHOOL FUNDING COME FROM?
Indiana public schools receive funding from three primary sources:
Primarily fund the Operations Fund, which pays for expenses such as transportation, facilities, maintenance, utilities, safety, and other operational costs.
Primarily supports the Education Fund, which pays for classroom instruction, teachers, instructional assistants, administrators, curriculum, technology, and other student learning expenses.
Supports specific educational programs, such as Title I services, special education, school nutrition, and other federally authorized initiatives.
SCHOOL FUNDING
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LOCAL FUNDING
Primarily from property taxes collected within Perry Township.
This funding supports operations, transportation and capital projects. Referendum dollars also fall here and are approved directly by voters. |
STATE FUNDING
Indiana distributes funding through its tuition support formula
based on enrollment. Other state funding supports special education, career and technical programs, and additional student needs. |
FEDERAL FUNDING
Includes Title I, IDEA, school nutrition programs and targeted grants.
These dollars supplement state and local funding and support specific programs and student populations. |
Understanding these funding sources helps explain why schools cannot simply move money from one area to another. Each funding source has legal requirements that determine how those dollars may be spent.
