Budget meetings, online survey offer a chance for public input

From AAPSNews Service

Budget information meetings are scheduled around The Ann Arbor Public Schools this month, where members of the community will be asked to consider proposed budget cuts and offer their own suggestions.

A survey also has been put on the district’s Web page asking for similar feedback as the district aims to cut $20 million from the 2010-11 fiscal budget that begins July 1, 2010.

Click here to access the survey and participate.

Officials are working on proposed budget reductions and will add ideas offered by staff and the public over the coming weeks as the Ann Arbor Board of Education begins considering options for the coming fiscal year. A balanced district budget must be adopted by the end of June.

During the scheduled, two-hour budget sessions, participants will break into small discussion groups to consider options and discuss other ideas and suggestions. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:
• Thursday, Jan. 7 – Huron High School cafeteria, 2727 Fuller Road.
• Tuesday, Jan. 12 – Skyline High School commons, 2552 N. Maple Road.
• Thursday, Jan. 14 – Scarlett Middle School cafeteria, 3300 Lorraine St.
• Tuesday, Jan. 19 – Pioneer High School cafeteria, 601 W. Stadium Blvd.

In addition to these planned public sessions, officials hosted a series of information meetings in December with Ann Arbor Public Schools employees.

For updates on the budget process and background information to use before coming to a meeting, click here or go to http://a2schools.org and click on the blue “District Budget” box on the right side of the page.

Included online is up-to-date budget and financial information as well as the survey which asks for input on the budget process and solicits ideas and suggestions on how to reduce school operation costs.

Also on the site is a user-friendly guide to the budget (click here, then on “Understanding the AAPS budget”) that is available as a reference for those seeking more information.

Questions on this process can be directed to Director of Communications Liz Margolis at 994-2236 or e-mail her.

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