Budget Deal Reduces State School Cuts

A Hartland school board member called Thursday's state budget agreement that promises to inject $310 million back in K-12 education progress, but said more could be done.

"K-12 should not have to take a cut," said Michelle Hutchinson, who monitors legislative issues for the board. "Cuts are never good."

Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican legislative leaders announced the new framework as part of a larger deal for the 2011-12 fiscal year that eliminates a $1.5 billion deficit, according to a news release from the governor's office. The move comes less than two weeks from Snyder's May 31 goal for budget approval — which would be far sooner than previous years. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

"It's a new day in Michigan," Snyder said in the release. "We're leaving gridlock and negativity in the past. Michigan has not been well served by the annual budget dramas that have taken government to the brink of shutdown. We will have a timely, balanced budget in place so that our municipal and school partners can accurately plan for the coming year, avoiding the chaos that too often has been foisted upon them due to Lansing's inaction."

Of the new $310 million to be funneled to K-12, $150 million would be available to "districts that meet specified financial best practice measures" and $160 million in one-time money to help districts off-set retirement cost increases mandated by the state, the release said.

The changes would mean districts would face a per pupil cut of less than $100, according to the release but other media outlets, such as this Kalamazoo Gazette story, have been reporting that figure is higher, although lower than previous plans.

Republicans say they are supportive of education but maintain the state can no longer afford current funding levels and reform is needed to make districts more efficient by cutting costs through collaboration and by making benefits more in line with the private sector.

Under the Snyder's original proposal, Hartland expected to see a $4.1 million reduction that would likely meant salary and benefit cuts for employees followed by even deeper cuts the next year.

Hutchinson said it's unclear from the specifics reported so far what the new plan would mean for the district, but added that Hartland already has partnerships in transportation and technology with other districts to save money that could allow it to qualify for some of the best-practice funding.

"Hopefully, that will be to our benefit," she said.

She also said the additional dollars for education shows that pressure from parents, teachers and community members is making a difference in Lansing.

"This is the result of everyone speaking up," she said. "None of this would have happened if everyone had kept quiet."

Other highlights of the budget agreement, according to the release, include:

• $400 million into rainy day funds.
• $50 million for brownfield redevelopment and historic preservation incentives.
• $35 million less in what the state is seeking in state employee concessions.
• $30 million more for local units of government.