Washtenaw County school districts hit hard by additional $127 per student state budget cuts

Washtenaw County school officials reacted with shock and anger to news that Gov. Jennifer Granholm was cutting an additional $127 per pupil from the money the state gives to districts.

The move piles onto a series of cuts in recent days to the aid the state gives schools, which is the primary revenue for school districts in Michigan.

The state had already cut $165 per pupil from every school district. The state now pays each district a varying amount of money per student enrolled. Ann Arbor gets about $9,600.

Granholm also cut “hold harmless” money, known as 20J funding, earlier this week. That money had been funneled to about 40 school districts in the state, including Ann Arbor. That cut equated to $233 per pupil.

The first two cuts added together will cost Ann Arbor more than $6 million.

The latest cut will further stress districts' budgets, especially in those like Ypsilanti and Willow Run, which are already operating at a deficit.

Ypsilanti Superintendent Dedrick Martin said the district has already started the hard process of exploring cuts that would need to be made to balance the budget. Those cuts could include mid-year layoffs, he said.

“It’s hard to cut an additional $1 million,” he said.

Most of school district’s costs are in personnel, meaning positions must be cut to bring the budget in line.

Most local school districts don’t have cash reserves to handle the cut.

News of the cuts comes as Washtenaw County districts are in the middle of a drive to get voters to pass a 2-mill countywide enhancement millage. That millage would raise about $11 million a year for Ann Arbor and $30 million countywide.

Martin said the millage would help Ypsilanti, but wouldn't get rid of all the financial pain.

School officials expect to face more cuts next year - anywhere between an additional $400 to $600 per student. That could cost Ann Arbor in the neighborhood of $15 million, school administrators have said.

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.