Michael MacDonald
Herald Editor
After months of uncertainty, school leaders in Gratiot County finally have clarity following the passage of a $24.12 billion state education budget.
Legislators approved the spending plan last Friday, averting disruptions to the first aid payments of the year and preserving key programs such as free meals, at-risk funding, and student mental health supports.
Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District Superintendent Paul Hungerford told The Herald the bipartisan agreement provides relief, but the delay in getting there caused avoidable anxiety for local administrators.
“The biggest frustration was that it was overdue by three months,” Hungerford said.
“It really didn’t need to be. That’s what I’ll continue advocating for — timely budgets that allow districts to plan for their students.”
Tied to the overall $81B statewide budget, the education portion was originally due July 1, the start of the fiscal year for school districts. Disagreements over funding formulas and program consolidations stalled negotiations for months.
The Michigan Department of Education has told superintendents that as long as the final budget is certified by Oct. 10, state aid payments will arrive as scheduled. That guidance gives school boards some assurance after weeks of operating without firm numbers.
A major share of the education budget is tied to the foundation allowance, the per-pupil base used to calculate district funding. This year, that amount rose from $9,608 to $10,050, about a 4.6 percent increase. Hungerford explained the true gain will likely be smaller once rising costs are factored in.
“That 4.6 percent increase isn’t going to be the true net,” he said. “We’ll see an increase in foundation funding, which is always appreciated, but because expenditures also went up, the real increase will be less. We’ll know more over the next several weeks once we really dive into the full budget.”
The timing of the state aid aligns closely with Student Count Day, held last Wednesday. That biannual headcount determines each district’s official enrollment figure, which directly drives per-pupil funding.
Among the most closely watched items was the continuation of universal free breakfast and lunch for all public and private K-12 students. The $201.6 million appropriation marks the third year of the Michigan School Meals program.
“That program has served our families and communities really, really well,” Hungerford said. “When it looked like it might be eliminated, that was a major concern, especially with the budget delay. Districts were right up against the deadline trying to decide whether families should start paying for lunch again.”
He added the governor’s office sent communication last Tuesday to local districts confirming that free meals would continue.
“That was a major win,” Hungerford said. “Students need to be able to eat, and our local superintendents and I are very happy to see it stay.”
The budget also increases at-risk funding by 25 percent and maintains more than $321 million statewide for school safety and mental health programs. Hungerford noted those investments reinforce systems already in place through the RESD and its countywide partnerships.
“Those are two significant areas where we appreciate the continued support,” he said. “We have a robust system that supports that work through the RESD and partnerships with Gratiot Integrated Health and Isabella Citizens for Health. Every school building in our two-county region has access to social workers through those relationships.”
Additional at-risk dollars will help local districts “intentionally target areas that provide direct services and supports to students,” he said.
After lawmakers failed to meet the summer deadline for passing the education budget, advocates had warned that prolonged inaction could force districts to borrow money to cover payroll and transportation. Several superintendents across the state told the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators that the delay had already disrupted hiring and programming decisions. A MASA survey found more than half of districts postponed filling positions, and some increased class sizes or paused extracurricular offerings while waiting for the budget to pass.
Gratiot school districts faced similar pressures.
“Because of the unknown, some positions may not have been filled, which could mean larger class sizes,” Hungerford said. “Now that we have a budget, local districts might reopen those postings.”
While no deep cuts were made, he added the uncertainty consumed valuable planning time and created “an unnecessary level of anxiety.”
“Districts worked hard to keep schools running as normal, but lawmakers should have had this done by July 1,”Hungerford said.” There’s a deadline for a reason, and they need to deliver next year.”