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Because of proposed cuts to education coming from Lansing and Washington, Warren Consolidated Schools is facing a $17.2 million deficit next year -- 10% of the district’s total annual budget. More than $14.2 million of this budget crisis is artificially created and rests squarely in the hands of our state and federal legislators in the form of proposed MASSIVE cuts in per-pupil state aid funding, MAJOR state-mandated cost increases, and lost federal aid. If these proposed cuts aren’t reduced, the “perfect financial storm” is going to wash over Warren Consolidated Schools, causing major changes in educational programs and increased class sizes. You can hear how your local legislators stand on these proposed cuts at a special forum on May 9th at Warren Consolidated’s Performing Arts Center.

QUICK FACTS

• $4.7 million of Warren Consolidated’s deficit comes directly from the Governor’s proposed shift of $700 million from the State School Aid Fund to colleges and universities which already have other revenue sources. This arbitrary shift reduces per-pupil aid to Warren Consolidated by $300 per-pupil in addition to the $170 per-pupil cut made this year and continued next year. 
  

• No Michigan school district has ever faced such a massive $470 per-pupil cut in a single year since the state took over funding education in 1994.

• The State School Aid Fund was set up to fund K-12 schools and has a current surplus which makes the $300 cut unnecessary.

• The state is also mandating that WCS pay an additional $4.7 million into the state retirement system.

• The proposed cuts will force WCS to use 99% of its “rainy day” fund in one year to cover the $17.2 million deficit or make cuts to educational program and increase class sizes.  Next year, there’s nothing left to cover a deficit that could even be higher.

• Cutting all general education busing, athletics, extracurricular activities, music, art, and technology programs, the district would only save $10 million, leaving $7.2 million to come from the fund balance and other “one-time” sources.

• WCS has already made its “shared sacrifice.” WCS reduced its budget by more than $40 million since 2001: cutting support services, some bus transportation, low-enrollment classes, and adding activity fees to generate revenue. WCS employees have taken wage freezes and increased their contribution to health care costs.

Money from the state’s general fund that should be going INTO the StateSchool Aid Fund is instead being used to help offset $1.8 billion in tax cuts for Michigan businesses.

You will have a chance to find out how your state senator and representative feel about this massive “disinvestment” in education at a public forum at 7 PM on Monday, May 9th at Warren Consolidated’s Performing Arts Center, 12901 Fifteen Mile Rd. in Sterling Heights. Legislators will attend. For more information, contact Robert Freehan (586) 524-1246.