School districts will be looking for some hints as the state’s budget experts and economists try to forecast state revenues today.
The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crash that followed might mean cuts are ahead for schools.
Jennifer Smith is the Director of Government Relations for the Michigan Association of School Boards. She says school districts are planning as best as they can with all the uncertainty.
“A lot of our districts have passed multiple versions of a budget that take into account different levels of cuts,” Smith said.
Today’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference will give legislators a better idea of what the economy will do to the state budget.
Then it’s a matter of waiting until the state finalizes the School Aid Fund numbers.
“Which we don't expect until probably mid-September,” Smith said.
The state associations which advise school district are all warning the schools to be as conservative as they can with their budgets.