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Dipping Into the Fund Equity; It's Normal.....from Nov. 19, 2003
Topic Started: Nov 20 2006, 11:16 PM (230 Views)
fyi
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[size=5]District budget worsens
Livonia schools to tap fund balance to offset $3.25 million in per-pupil cash
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Detroit News, The (MI)

November 19, 2003

Author: The Detroit News

Santiago Esparza


Livonia Public Schools is dipping into its fund balance to help offset state decreases in funding for the fourth consecutive year.

State officials have informed the district that unless some other cuts or funding source is found by the first week of December, Livonia will lose about $3.25 million in per pupil funding promised for this school year.

"We can't do this next year," said School Board member Robert Freeman. "We don't have the money."

The fund balance is made up of money set aside for items such as the district's student home construction project, adult education and textbooks. The estimated $4.4 million in the fund is down from an earlier estimate of $9.2 million. State budget cuts are blamed for the decrease.

Superintendent Randy Liepa said he does not like tapping the fund, but doesn't have a choice. About 95 percent of the district's funding comes from the state.

In addition, the state has told district officials that the cuts will be worse next year if the current funding situation is not addressed, Liepa said.

The board has no say over how the state funds the district. The board does have control of the budget in terms of layoffs and programs being eliminated. But Liepa said he will not ask the board to eliminate programs or order layoffs at this time.

Some board members would like PTAs in the district and residents to write letters to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, asking her to keep funding at its current levels.

"Once people do it one time, they will be more comfortable doing it," said board member Joanne Morgan, who serves on the board's legislative committee.

Board President Kevin Whitehead said letters written in a diplomatic manner can help plead the district's case in Lansing.

But board member Dan Lessard said the board and PTAs have written letters numerous times in the past and "look where we are at."



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fyi
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O & E 11/09/06
 
Liepa estimated that $2 million in adjustments would be necessary. He will recommend taking money from the district's $10.9 million fund equity to balance the budget. The school board will make that determination later this month.

Budget adjustments are always necessary after the start of the school year when the district determines actual enrollment figures, personnel costs and the state's per-pupil allocation, Liepa said. Typically the district does not try to cut the budget mid-year.

"Our goal has always been to maintain our programs as we go throughout he year," he said. "It's one of the reasons you have fund equity."
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Recalla
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That's right Dan... "Look where we are at"

(By the way Dan, you should not end a sentence with a preposition) B)

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fyi
Principal
Quote:
 
The fund balance is made up of money set aside for items such as the district's student home construction project, adult education and textbooks.


I think I've figured out why students in LPS have to share textbooks.....and why elementary students do not have textbooks. They have been dipping into the textbook fund for the last 7 years. :o
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Livonia Voter
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fyi
Nov 20 2006, 11:38 PM
Quote:
 
The fund balance is made up of money set aside for items such as the district's student home construction project, adult education and textbooks.


I think I've figured out why students in LPS have to share textbooks.....and why elementary students do not have textbooks. They have been dipping into the textbook fund for the last 7 years. :o


I wonder if the Observer staff feels a bit embarassed about backing the BOE on Recall.

Sigh


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