Superintendent: state budget passed in October preserves subsidized school meals; board to review local budget amendment Nov. 10
Summary
Superintendent Micah told the board that the state legislature passed the budget in October and included allocations that allow the district to continue subsidized school meals; he warned the late budget timing created planning difficulties and said the board will hold a committee meeting Nov. 10 for a local budget amendment.
Superintendent Micah updated the Novi Community School District Board on Oct. 16 that the Michigan Legislature passed the state budget in October and included an allocation to preserve the district’s subsidized school meals program.
Micah said the budget action provides clarity on state allocations and allows the district to continue its meals program "as it has been." He described the state process as delayed — noting the legislature missed the July 1 statutory target and only passed the budget in October — and said that late passage makes district planning difficult. Micah said boilerplate policy language inserted into the late budget raises concerns because practitioners and the public had little time to review or provide input.
The superintendent said the district will hold a committee-of-the-whole meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 10 to begin a local budget amendment process. He said the district plans to do four budget amendments this year (an earlier schedule than usual) because of the late state action. He also said the budget includes funding to implement negotiated employee compensation increases enumerated in district contracts.
Why it matters: State allocations determine a large portion of school operating revenues. Late passage of the state budget affects hiring, programming, and financial planning at the district level. The Nov. 10 committee meeting will present a finance and capital projects review and an initial budget amendment.
Quotations: "The new budget does include an allocation for the school meals program, which will allow for subsidized meals to continue," Micah said. He added the district needed to "encourage and expect better" from legislators to complete the budget on time in future years.
What’s next: The board will review proposed local budget amendments at committee on Nov. 10 and will receive audit reports for the prior fiscal year at that session. The superintendent encouraged public engagement with legislators on budget timing and policy language.
Caveat: Micah described policy language in the state budget as having "massive ramifications" but did not go through an exhaustive list at the board meeting; he urged board members and community members to follow up with legislators.
