Tom Tolen / news@whmi.com

The Brighton Area Schools Board of Education adopted the projected 2025-26 general fund budget Monday night on a 6-1 vote and approved the amended 24-25 district budget. The ’25-’26 budget - which totals $128.4 million - marks a modest, $3 million increase over the revised 24-25 budget of $125 million.

By state law, the district must adopt the coming year’s budget by June 30th although, ironically, the state itself doesn’t approve its own budget until the following October. The fact that local governments are required to pass their budgets before the figures from the state are known irks Board President Roger Myers.

He tells WHMI, in his words, “It’s really a flaw in the whole system." Myers adds that the process necessitates "a lot of guess work” on the part of Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance David Jones. Nonetheless, Myers says, again, his words, “Dave Jones and his team always do a great job” of using projections, prior year figures and other data to estimate the amount of revenue that will be forthcoming.

The budget is based, in part, on the district’s state foundation grant, known commonly as per-pupil funding. Although the per-pupil aid amount for the coming year hasn’t been set by the state, all three proposals - coming from the governor, house and senate - are over $10,000. Jones projects that Brighton’s fund balance at the end of the 25-26 fiscal year will be a healthy $19.9 million.


In other action, the board approved the architect for the coming bond issue, which will likely take place as part of this year's November general election. The firm chosen is Kingscott of Royal Oak, which the board facilities committee preferred by a razor-thin margin over Lindhout Associates of Brighton and French Associates of Auburn Hills. Myers said that any of the three firms would have been an excellent choice for the district. Fees for performing the architectural work were not discussed and will depend on the projects that will be on the ballot. The board’s next regular meeting will be July 14th at 7 pm.