Legislative News – October 23, 2009

Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she had no choice but to order an additional $212-million cut from aid to schools. That works out to a $127-per-pupil cut, coming on top of the $165-per-pupil cut in the new budget she signed Monday.  All Schools in Michigan are looking at $292 cut per student.  The financial hit is greatest for 39 of the state’s largest or most expensive school districts including Royal Oak, which also would endure further cuts. Granholm earlier vetoed $51.5 million for those districts.  The cuts in these districts are  as much as $600 per student. 
Republicans said Granholm was using scare tactics to pressure them for a tax increase.  Granholm and State Treasurer Robert Kleine said state revenues have dropped so much it was time to avoid more deficits.
State law allows the governor to cut payments to schools to address budget shortfalls caused by falling tax revenue. The Legislature has 30 days to partially or fully restore the money by other means.  PTA member need to contact their representatives immediately to come up with solutions restore funding as schools will be decimated by these cuts.