Budget Crisis
| Submitted on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 1:53pm. |
 Superintendent Tom Martin and many other area educators, board members and parents recently attended a meeting with Governor Granholm to discuss the school budget crisis in Michigan. School aid for the 2009-10 year has been reduced by $165 per student. This reduction adds an additional $575,000 to our district’s current $1.5 million deficit. Even with this $165 per-pupil reduction, a $212 million shortfall remains in the state school-aid fund. In dollars and cents, this means unless the state legislature funds this $212 million in the next 30 days, school districts will receive a second funding reduction of $127 per student, for a total 2009-10 reduction of $292 per student. These combined reductions, along with the loss of 30 students more than projected, will bring Kenowa Hills’ projected deficit for this 2009-10 school year to $2.3 million. Lansing has a variety of options on the table to fund public education without this additional $127 per-pupil reduction and without a general tax increase. Should you wish to contact our state legislators – please follow these appropriate links: Representatives: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp |