KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The June 30th budget deadline is looming and Kalamazoo Public School Trustees have failed to approve a budget for the coming school year.
The budget approval was delayed due to a technical glitch that prevented them from cablecasting the virtual public hearing and streaming it online as planned for 6:45 p.m. Thursday.
Rather than risk a legal challenge, KPS Board President Patti Sholler-Barber says they will try again Monday at 5:30 p.m.
“We’re getting on the right side of right. True, people did get to speak, but we want to make sure there’s true clarity,” Sholler-Barber stated,
KPS’ Deputy Superintendent of Business and Finance Gary Start says their budget proposal must be in Lansing by July 1st or they could face sanctions.
“We have no authority to spend any money without a budget and of course it’s also a legal requirement to have a budget by the 30th, but the biggest issue could be not having the authority to spend any money,” Start explained.
He says they will probably have to redo the budget again in August anyway, when they hope to get an idea of what state funding will be for the coming school year.
The preliminary budget includes a nearly $7.5-million dollar cut due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The proposed budget has more than two dozen budget cuts including: eliminating the Alternative Learning Program, two professional development days, Lift Up Through Literacy, and 10 positions at the high schools; combining some positions and programs; reducing non-salary budgets by 5%; and implementing a 1.33% salary reduction with no steps, subject to negotiations and affecting only salaries over $11 an hour.
Details on Monday’s meeting will be posted on the KPS website.
(John McNeill contributed to this report.)
