DOE Spending Splits – Where The Money Goes

This month The Beacon Center, a non profit, non partisan organization which touts a distinguished Board of Director comprised of some of Tennessee’s most successful business people, launched a new site that identifies the way that local Departments of Education spend their dollars. Figures released include both state and local funding. In comparing Jefferson County with surrounding counties of Cocke, Sevier, Hamblen and Greene, there are some some disparities in the way that funds are spent.

Jefferson County, which has 6,886 students according to the Beacon’s 2013 numbers, showed a total budget(2013) of $68,753,778. Of that, approximately $9,985 was attributed to per pupil spending. That number slightly bests Cocke County’s per pupil spending by about $500 per student and Greene County’s per pupil spending by more than $1000. However, it trails the $10,801 spent per pupil in Hamblen County, as well as the $10,425 per student in Sevier County leaving Jefferson County per student spending in the middle of the pack when considering surrounding counties.

In addition to the per student spending, the question arises as to where the remaining tax dollars are being spent. Jefferson County lags behind in instructional spending, putting only around 47% of their dollars toward instructional spending, while neighboring counties of Sevier (54%), Greene (56%) and Cocke (54%) dedicated more funds toward that area. Hamblen County has the closest contribution to Jefferson County, putting around 48% toward instructional spending.

According to the report, Jefferson County has seen a 5% increase in teachers between 2003 and 2013, with only a 7 % increase in student population during that time period. The largest area of increase came in administration,which grew by 20% in the same ten year period. In regard to surrounding counties, both Greene and Cocke counties had lower student population growth, with teacher growth of 4% and 11% respectively. Both counties listed a negative administrative growth between 2003 and 2013. Both Hamblen and Sevier Counties has stronger student population growth, with Sevier County showing a 13% student increase, 18% teacher increase and 20% administrative increase. Hamblen County had a 15% student growth and 10% teacher growth, while only increasing administration by 3%. In comparison, Jefferson County’s administrative growth far out distanced that of surrounding counties, save Sevier County, whose administrative growth was more in line with total teacher and population growth.