Local News

$120 State Cut per Student Instead of $270?

Thu 3/11/10 7:07PM

Michigan school districts are well aware that their state funding will decline this fall.
Now they're getting a better idea of exactly how much less funding they'll have.
A state Senate subcommittee voted yesterday to cut down state aid to schools by nearly $120 per student.
Nearly $200 million from the state's general fund may go to easing the burden on schools, thus creating a larger general fund deficit.
This proposed cut is actually significantly less than the nearly $270-per-pupil cut school districts are expecting.
Negaunee superintendent Jim Derocher says while the smaller cut is certainly good news, even this amount is still severe enough that districts will have to make additional budget cuts to compensate.
State lawmakers are also considering putting a ballot proposal in front of voters come August with possible solutions for fixing the school budget problem.