Robert Emerson, the state's budget director, said in a letter Thursday to state school superintendents that the cuts are aimed at wiping out a school funding shortfall that already totals $377 million and could rise as high as $527 million by mid-May.

Republican lawmakers called the letter a scare tactic, but school officials have growing concerns.

The lost revenue would have grave consequences for districts across Michigan, said Tom White, executive director of the Michigan School Business Officials, an association of finance directors.

"It's the most dire situation that the state has faced, maybe ever, and certainly in the 20-plus years I've been dealing with school funding," White said. "My guess is, at some level, there would be some schools to close before June."

That $377 million he referenced?  The Senate voted unanimously earlier this week to wipe out over $300 million from that particular ledger.  The House approved the same changes.

That leaves about $75 million.  Break it out and it comes to just over $30 per pupil.  

Hardly $125.  Not even close.  Even if the revenue estimating conference comes in with the worst case scenario pushing the TOTAL budget deficit to the high $400 million range, the Democrats in the House and the Republicans in the Senate have already passed between them $500 million worth of spending cuts.

They're in conference right now.

The Governor is trying to rile up her base and she's lying to do it.  She doesn't have to close schools.  The money is there.  The cuts are there.  So why is she trying to hold Michigan kids hostage in her almost religious fervor to raise their parents' taxes?

There are serious problems in this state right now.  Look at the front page of any paper in the state, Madame Governor.  Michigan deserves better than leadership by hissy fit.