Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Mill Levy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board gives notice to exceed revenue neutral to maximize operational funds
Summary
The Lansing Board voted 7-0 to provide notice to exceed revenue neutral so it can move mills from bond and interest into local option budget and COLA funding; administrators said assessed-value shifts and state aid changes made the move feasible.
The Lansing Board of Education voted unanimously to provide notice to exceed revenue neutral, a procedural step that would allow the district to maximize operational funds by shifting mill levies from bond-and-interest to the local option budget and cost-of-living adjustments.
Marty, presenting the administration's recommendation, explained the mechanics behind the proposal and the district's reasoning: "We were able to drop our assessment on bond and interest from in the fourteens to just over 11," he said, and that change, together with changes in assessed valuation and state aid, lets the district transfer those mills into operational funds. Board members pressed for clarity on whether taxpayers would see an increase; administrators said the change is a reallocation designed to maximize funds for schools while minimizing direct tax impact. The board voted 7-0 to provide the required notice.
Board members noted ongoing costs the district must shoulder, including special-education obligations. One member summarized the concern: the district must cover approximately $2.1 million for special education from LOB, which constrains options if state funding does not fully cover mandated costs. The motion sets a public process in motion; the board later scheduled a public budget hearing for Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. to take public comment and finalize the budget decisions.
