Flint Schools May Ask for Extension on Revised Budget Deficit Elimination Plan

The Interim Superintendent of the Flint School District has reportedly told other superintendents from around Genesee County that the financially troubled district may ask for more time to submit an updated budget deficit elimination plan.

According to MLive, Interim Superintendent Larry Watkins made the remarks during a meeting on July 14th. Flint Schools have until the end of the month to give a revised budget deficit elimination plan to the state. However, that was before Watkins' new financial team found an additional $10 million in debt.

The Michigan Department of Education told MLive that Flint's current deficit elimination plan is for seven-years and that it's "the first time we have approved a plan of that length without also invoking (Public Act) 436, which would trigger a financial review to determine whether a financial emergency exists." The only other district with a longer deficit elimination plan is Pontiac which has ten years, but that district is also under a consent agreement with the state.

Watkins said the the board of education will most likely have to call a special meeting before the July 31 deadline to have its updated deficit elimination plan submitted to the state.