Bedford expects $1.4M deficit for 2012-13

5/25/2012
BLADE STAFF

TEMPERANCE -- Bedford Public Schools is looking at a projected $1.4 million operating deficit in the 2012-13 school year.

But the gap between spending and income begins to improve after that, with the shortfall narrowing to $778,717 in 2013-14 and disappearing by the end of the 2014-15 year, with the school system expecting to finish with a $19,543 surplus.

These were the forecasts from the Board of Education's budget planning workshop at Smith Road Elementary School Thursday.

Chief Financial Officer Jamie Cowan said the district has lost 10 percent of its enrollment in the past eight years and revenue from the state this year was about what it was in the 2005-06 year.

The district has a deficit elimination plan pending with the Michigan Department of Education that calls for cuts that include concessions from teachers, elimination of high school busing, and the closing of another school building.

These would be in addition to the $2.4 million in reductions the district has implemented, including the closing of Smith Road Elementary and the layoffs of 16 elementary teachers.