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Midland schools to be hard hit by governor's cuts

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

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Terry Camp
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MIDLAND (WJRT) -- (10/20/09)--One of the districts hit hardest by all these cuts is the Midland School District

Not only will it see a reduction in per pupil funding like everyone else, Midland will also lose more than $2 million.

Midland, like other wealthy communities in the state, was given additional funding to offset property tax reform, when it passed in the early 90's. But now, that money appears to be gone.

"I'm not very happy about it," said Midland Schools Superintendent Carl Ellinger.

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Ellinger says proposed per-pupil funding cuts and the elimination of what is called 20-J payments will leave a gaping hole in the schools' budget.

"Our district could be looking at well over $5 million of less revenue to run the school district this year than last year," he said.

Midland is the only district in Mid-Michigan to be severely impacted by the 20-J funding cuts, the latest victim in the high-stakes budget battle.

"It's a game of politics between the Democrats, Republicans and the governor and young people, and their futures are being impacted by a lack of courage and to really come to grips with what faces the state of Michigan in terms of our economic problems," Ellinger said.

Sarah Martin and Tanya Howell have children at Eastlawn Elementary and are worried about the future of the district.

"It's very frustrating," Martin said. "I think education should come first."

"I think they have already taken too much and more would just be awful for everybody," Howell said.

Ellinger says his district has adjusted in these tough economic times, and it's time Lansing does the same.

"We have privatized services. We have made consolidations. We are looking at building closures. We get the role that we need to play in that," Ellinger said.

"What I would say to the legislators is, 'What part of this formula do you not understand?' Because they need to take a look at raising revenue to support children in the state of Michigan."

Ellinger says the school district will have to dip into savings to keep programs where they are for the remainder of this school year.

Next year, that's where the big cuts could come.