LANSING (WKZO) -- Governor Jennifer Granholm is calling on schools to schedule at least 180 days a year in school. She says Japan and China require their students spend 220 days in school every year. Some districts do, some don’t and more often than not the issue is money. It costs more to be in session longer and not all districts can afford it.
There are reports of a “deal in concept” between the Governor and Legislative leaders on how to erase a 300-million dollar deficit in this year’s budget and a 484-million dollar projected deficit next year.
It includes several proposals pitched by the governor, including a 3% across the board cut in department budgets, a tax amnesty and state workers who are eligible for retirement, but stay on would be required to pay more for their retirement benefits.
It reportedly won’t include any cuts in education, and Granholm has abandoned plans to try to have liquor distributors bid for the work.
Budget Director Bob Emerson is expected to circulate a hard copy of what they negotiated yesterday, and if everyone is still on board, it could be a major breakthrough on the budget discussions. They have until the end of the month to approve a budget and avoid another government shutdown.
