The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Sometimes proposals include consequences
By David K. Killips
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
There has been a swirl of activity in Lansing regarding the state budget and the funding of schools. Many legislators have come to the conclusion that our current system needs to be adjusted as we have a structural problem with our tax system.
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Over the last five years we have reduced our budgets by several millions of dollars and controlled our expenditures. Any time we had a resignation or retirement we did not fill the position, if possible. We have reduced administrative costs, transportation costs, water fees, personnel costs for professional and support staff, and some programming.
Our employees have helped us out by altering their insurance plans decreasing our annual premiums by approximately 25 percent. We have been very fortunate to have support from the Athletic Boosters, Music Boosters, the Community Education Foundation and others to help us through these difficult times.
Our Board of Education has been vigilant in demanding fiscal responsibility throughout the school district. Even though we are in better shape financially than most school districts around us, we are not on solid ground. There will be many difficult decisions to make in the near future. The decisions we make will keep students in the forefront of our minds.
As concerned citizens, I encourage all of you to monitor the activities and proposals coming out of Lansing.
Be aware that sometimes proposals come with consequences. Increasing per pupil funding sounds great. However, when such proposed increases come with mid-year cuts or shifting additional expenditures such as increased retirement costs to the local district, in reality such a proposed increase is usually much smaller or non-existent.
Reducing the state income tax was another such proposal. We all benefit from a reduction from 4.4 percent to 3.9 percent. However, school funding would not be in this crisis had the income tax rate remained in tact.
We all know that this is a difficult time for the state economy. In addition to economic challenges, we stand to lose students due to families moving out of state because of the reduction of jobs in various industries.
It is my goal not to reiterate the challenges we face, but assure the community that the Chelsea School District is working hard to address issues that we face. The District has a strong reputation educating the whole child. We will continue this pursuit. Our hope is the partisanship in Lansing be put on the back burner so Michigan can move ahead and invest in future generations that will lead this great state.
David K. Killips is the superintendent of the Chelsea School District.
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