Governor’s Executive Budget

The Governor’s budget proposal recommends deep cuts to schools:  $300 per pupil reduction in foundation allowance in addition to the $170 per pupil reduction from the current year.  Add in the estimated MPSERS (Michigan public school employee retirement system) increase and the per pupil reduction increases to slightly over $700 per pupil for the upcoming school year.

Berkley Context

$700 per pupil plus our estimated health care increases means nearly a $900 of combined impact in increased expenditures and reduced revenue - $4,300,000.

·       Eliminating our entire k-12 music program would cover only 21% of the $4,300,000

·       Eliminating our entire 6-12 athletic program would cover only 14% of the $4,300,000

·       $4,300,000 in terms of class size increases is like adding on average at least seven (7) students for each general education classroom in our District

·       $4,300,000 in terms of staff reductions is like losing at least 41 teachers

Obviously, I will leave it to you to determine your reaction to the Governor's proposal, how you wish to respond, what it might mean for our District, and whether you wish to express your opinions to our legislators. Should you wish to contact your legislators or other elected officials:

Senator Vincent Gregory, 517-373-7888, SenVGregory@senate.michigan.gov

Senator John Pappageorge, 517-373-2523, senjpappageorge@senate.michigan.gov

Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton, 517-373-0478, EllenLipton@house.mi.gov 

Governor Rick Snyder, 517-335-7858, rick.snyder@michigan.gov