Office of the Treasurer

Community Update: Where Does the Money Go?

OLENTANGY LOCAL SCHOOLS goes to great lengths to be sure tax dollars are spent wisely. The budget process is six months long and begins with school and department requests for funds based upon student educational needs. These requests are then scrutinized by building principals and also reviewed by senior-level district administrators. A draft budget is prepared and shared with a group of community members on the Finance and Audit Committee. After this group asks questions and offers input, the final budget is presented to the Board of Education for approval. This comprehensive process is focused on providing teachers and support staff with what they need to educate students while watching the bottom line for taxpayers.

expenditures per pupil

The FACTS: Answering Community Questions

  • Olentangy’s total expenditure per pupil is $9,460, which is $793 less than the state average of $10,253 per pupil and $1,402 less than the similar districts average of $10,862 per pupil.
  • Administrative expenditures in Olentangy total $946 per sudent and are less than the state average of $1,196 per pupil and the similar districts average of $1,108 per pupil.
  • Even though Olentangy is the 11th largest and fastest-growing school district in Ohio, the district spends $92 per pupil less than the state average on building operations
  • Pupil support includes non-instructional expenses that enhance the student development process such as counseling, psychological services and health services. Olentangy spends 10.3 percent of the total expenditures per pupil to provide a wide range of pupil support services and is still spending less on this area than the state average or similar districts average.
  • More than 57 percent of Olentangy’s costs per pupil are spent on instruction. These expenses include the salaries and benefits of teaching personnel. Olentangy spends $5,401 per pupil on instructional expenses while the similar districts average is $6,203 per pupil and the state average is $5,676 per pupil.

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