Time running out to fill school budget gap

SAGINAW COUNTY (WJRT) -- (11/02/09)--Time is running out to fill a budget gap that will leave Michigan school districts with a nearly $300-per-pupil cut.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm came to Saginaw County Monday for a roundtable discussion where school leaders sounded off about how those deep cuts would affect their students.

Saginaw County school leaders say if the $292-per- pupil funding cuts go through, some districts will be forced to make massive cuts.

That would be on top of the deep cuts already made to balance this year's budget. Granholm listened to their concerns but said it's up to lawmakers to fill the funding gap.

Granholm described the situation as a crisis, saying there are both short-term and long-term problems to be addressed.

First up, Granholm says the short-term crisis has to be fixed in about two weeks. That's when districts across the state are supposed to get their first school aid payments.

Granholm says districts will definitely lose $165 per pupil, but the additional $127-per-pupil cut could be avoided if state lawmakers find additional revenue to fill the gap.

The governor said targeted narrow revenues are the answer.

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