23 Michigan school districts projected to have deficits

LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Officials say at least 23 Michigan school districts are projected to end fiscal year 2016 with a budget deficit. The Detroit News reports the number is down from last year, when there were 41 school districts on the list. Officials say seven of the districts on the 2016 list will have deeper debt than the previous year, including Detroit’s public school district. Bill DiSessa, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education, says school districts across the state have seen their enrollment numbers plummet. Since Michigan funds schools on a per-student basis, districts are forced to operate with less money and make cuts. DiSessa notes that districts with a five-year deficit, or those that are projected to have one, qualify for additional resources from the state Department of Treasury.