By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-892547.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Officials at the state Capitol say the Legislature can wait until after a two-week spring break to complete work on an early retirement offer to public employees.
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Veteran teachers are waiting to see if the Legislature will approve an early retirement plan. School administrators are waiting to see if they will have to hire replacement teachers.
Lawmakers are preparing to take a two-week spring break, and won't be able to vote on Governor Granholm's proposal to offer the early retirement to public employees until they return.
State Budget Director Bob Emerson says that's okay, but the lawmakers need to make a decision very soon.
"I think that first week they're back is the latest we can wait," he says.
The K-12 budget proposal approved by the Senate assumes savings from the early retirement plan. They say that plan would off-set cuts made to per-pupil funding.