By Susan J. Demas
It's that time of year again when the governor and lawmakers slog through next year's budget due on Oct. 1. Given the fact that the federal stimulus money has run dry, the budget hole is pegged to be at least $1.7 billion even after a decade of deficits. And it's an election [...]

By Chris Andrews
OKEMOS — Miniature houses line the walls of the classroom one week, complete with electric circuitry that the teacher's young engineering students have designed, tested, revised and re-revised before the lights went on and they earned their electrical permits.
A week later, students walk through a huge tunnel to enter the class and discover [...]

By Ron Basso
The Legislative Commission on Unfunded Mandates established by the Michigan legislature in 2007 by Public Act 98, as amended, MCL 4.1781 et seq., and charged with the task of identifying the costs of complying with funded and unfunded mandates imposed by the state on local units of government, and to make determinations and [...]

By Melissa Preddy
Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe recently added four more folders to a drawer full of 'contracted policing' inquiries.
Each new file represents a cash-strapped Oakland County city or township that's contacted McCabe to talk about hiring the sheriff's office to do its community police work. Currently, his department provides contracted services for 14 [...]

By John Foren
In school finance terms in Michigan, "Kalkaska" is the nuclear option.
The question is: How many school districts are ready to push the button?
"Kalkaska" is when districts do the unthinkable and throw up their hands over money problems and shut their doors, putting the "Closed for summer" sign up early. After numerous failed millage [...]