School leaders, public discuss growing budget shortfall

By Mark Bashore, WKAR

East Lansing, MI – East Lansing, MI (WKAR) - The Lansing School District is meeting Tuesday evening to discuss how to address its growing budget deficit. School Board President Hugh Clarke says changing state rules on paying for all-day Kindergarten could add several million dollars to the district's tab. Lansing also expects enrollment to fall by up to a thousand next year. That means millions fewer state dollars. District planners now expect a deficit as high as $18-million.

State law requires school districts to pass balanced budgets for the next school year by June 30. Tonight's budget meeting and public hearing begins at 5:30pm at Lansing school district headquarters on Kalamazoo Street.