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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

budget scissors

150 public school systems in financial peril

By Ed Brayton | 03.28.11 | 7:42 am

At least 150 school systems in the state of Michigan lack necessary reserves and may have a difficult time surviving the massive cuts to education spending proposed by Gov. Snyder and the Republican-led legislature.

The Detroit Free Press reports:

More than 150 school districts and charter schools in Michigan are teetering on the edge of going broke, a situation that is likely to get worse under Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed cuts of $470 per pupil.

These are the districts that have so little set aside in rainy day funds that Snyder’s cuts — coupled with a huge increase in retirement costs this summer — could put them in a deficit, joining the 43 districts and charters already there.

It’s a situation that has mobilized school leaders — testifying in Lansing, writing lawmakers and sending letters to parents. They say that after years of closing schools, laying off staff and slashing programs, there’s little left to cut.

And for those who do have some reserves set aside to help them survive lean years, the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee wants to cut their per-pupil funding even more to teach them to be so profligate. But at least the state is ready to appoint emergency financial managers with virtually unlimited powers to fix all those broken school systems.

Comments

  • http://profiles.google.com/woodswalker2 don mitchell

    when the schools cut cut the fat wages and the health and life insurance that WE,the tax payers are fed up with paying through the nose for, and get rid of the worthless unions, then ,maybe we can talk about funding.
    I am an ex union member and ex democrat.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Laurel-Zanardelli/100000779757443 Laurel Zanardelli

      Apparently Don is a sound bite for fixed news…virtually every little part of that long convaluted sentence reeked of soundbites. Too bad he can’t think for himself.

    • Anonymous

      Are you also sick of paying high prices for products so the company executives can have “fat wages”? Are you sick of them dodging taxes? Sending jobs overseas? Damaging the planet for profit? Sick of bailing out wall-street? Or are we just sick of Unions that only form when workers are mistreated or paid poorly? I am not a Union man myself, but I am smart enough to recognize that non-union jobs have decent pay and benefits in part because of Unions. Yes much of this happened in the past, but there is still the “fear” of a union forming. It is just easier to treat people fairly. To that end, just pass some laws that guarantee workers wont get screwed, make sure they get due process instead of just being fired because they cost too much, etc etc. Unions will disappear once they are not needed. They will only become more prevalent when workers are being attacked.

  • http://profiles.google.com/wattervilleh Henry Waterville

    School districts are having a tough time balancing their budgets. If a grocery store was only open for business 6 hours a day for 185 days a year and still paid the employees a full years wage, that store would also be in financial troubles. If we really want to control the costs of education, we need to close half the schools, layoff half the staff, and run two shifts in the remaining building.

    • Anonymous

      Before making rash decisions, I suggest you walk in the shoes of a public school employee for a day.

      • Anonymous

        I think what Americans are saying, “walk in the shoes of the private sector and their employers who pay for ALL the public sector employees’ wages (including their income tax obligations)”. The real tragedy is that our representatives on school boards and other local government officials rubber stamped contracts with elevator clauses and fringe benefits, but never set aside future funding of these obligations. Why should the property and income taxes of a young household go to the underfunded retirement plans of past employees?

        • Anonymous

          Your first statement is misleading. It is a closed system, except for the trade deficit, which is another issue, money paid in taxes supports the necessities of a country to run. That money is in turn spent on people and resources and that money eventually makes its way to the private sector. So really the private and public sector are supporting each other, which makes sense since we need both. I agree that the healthcare is out of control and the new law was supposed to fix that, which it hasnt. Public employees need to pay 20% or so of their health insurance if that is what the private sector is doing. The retirement plan you speak of is healthy and is fully funded. This fund pumps around 6.5 billion dollars in the Michigan economy annually. I don’t understand why so many people are so ready to demonize the public sector for their “cushy” jobs, but have no problem with big corporate executives making millions or even billions. We are paying for that too, not necessarily through taxes, but through the purchases we make. At least the public employees, for the most part are doing their part with concessions, PAYING taxes, not polluting the earth, and not shipping jobs overseas. It is a double standard wanting the public sector to be perfect while allowing the private sector to run amok. As long as we allow more and more wealth to accumulate in a smaller and smaller group of people, the economy will never get better. Instead of making out one group to be scape goats, lets all focus on a common goal to actually solve the problems of this country.

      • http://profiles.google.com/wattervilleh Henry Waterville

        I have walked in those shoes, that is why I know school districts could save money without any reduction in the quality of service to the students by simply having two shifts of students each day rather than just one. The parents would need to make adjustments to their schedules to accommodate this change, but it would save money.

        • Anonymous

          The only savings that would have is on brick and mortar, they exact same amount of staff would be required. This would further destroy the family dynamic. I would hate to be the working parent of the “2nd shift” kids. If I was on first shift and my kids were on second, I would never see them. Sure there are a few 2nd shift jobs, but the vast majority of jobs are first shift. Interesting idea, but I believe the unattended consequences would out way any possible savings.

          • http://profiles.google.com/wattervilleh Henry Waterville

            I did suggest that half the staff should be laid-off. Half the certified staff with an equal number of newly hired classroom aides would greatly reduce costs. Three years ago, I started keeping a journal of the hours that I actually work with students, versus the amount of time that I spend doing mindless paperwork and “administrative tasks”. Most of my duties could easily be handled by a semi-skilled classroom aide at a fraction of my wages.

          • Anonymous

            What do you teach that you spend hours on “mindless paperwork”?

  • Anonymous

    I left MI in 1991 and moved to TN because of terrible winters, high utilities bills, high taxes, high crime and poor schools. Only poor decision I made was to move there in the first place! You can find a good paying job in one day here. Only a dumbass would complain about MI, but continue to live there. When they steal all your stuff and you have nothing left, you will leave! Last one out of MI, please turn off the lights! Oh, it’s sunny and 72 degrees today, so you MI idiots start shoveling off your driveways for the second time today!. HAHAHAHA!

  • Anonymous

    Left MI in 1991 and moved to TN because of terrible winters, high utilities bills, high taxes, high crime and poor schools. Only poor decision I made was to move there in the first place! You can find a good paying job in one day here. Only a dumbass would complain about MI, but continue to live there. When they steal all your stuff and you have nothing left, you will leave! Last one out of MI, please turn off the lights! Oh, it’s 72 degrees today, so you Michigander’s, better start shoveling off your driveways!

  • Anonymous

    Left MI in 1991 and moved to TN because of terrible winters, high utilities bills, high taxes, high crime and poor schools. Only poor decision I made was to move there in the first place! You can find a good paying job in one day here. Only a dumbass would complain about MI, but continue to live there. When they steal all your stuff and you have nothing left, you will leave! Last one out of MI, please turn off the lights! Oh, it’s 72 degrees today, so you Michigander’s, better start shoveling off your driveways!

Categories & Tags: Budget| Education| State Politics| | |