Michigan Center Schools pass budget with help from rainy-day fund and minimal cuts coming in July

THE ISSUE: A $10.8 million budget for the 2011-12 school year, which included instructional cuts to be announced in July.


WHAT HAPPENED MONDAY: The board approved a budget that is roughly $1 million below final expenditures for the 2010-11 school year. The 2011-12 budget currently has an estimated deficit of $927,761 — with expenditures estimated at more than $11.7 million. The district’s fund balance is expected to be reduced from $3.4 million to $2.5 million by July 2012.

THE VOTE: 6-0.

THE QUOTE: “There will be instructional cuts made and positions terminated within the district, but no student programming will be cut. The teachers and administrative staff have worked hard to make that possible and (Business Manager) Judy Johnson has really helped carry out a vision for this district.” — Michigan Center Superintendent Scott Koziol


WHAT IT WILL COST: Administrators and teachers have altered their health insurance plans. As of July 1 the district’s administrative staff and secretaries will be enrolled in Priority Health plans that will save the district roughly $65,000 next year. In January teachers agreed to raise their co-pays from 1 percent to 1.25 percent and their deductibles from $100 per individual or $200 per family to $200 and $400.
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As published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on June 29, 2011