The legislature and the governor have until the end of the month to avert another school funding crisis - this time, one that could force schools to park their buses.
The latest state police budget contains no money for school bus inspections, even though Michigan law requires the state police to inspect all buses on an annual basis.
State law also forbids a school from operating a bus that hasn't been inspected in the last year.
Karen Losch is with the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation.
According to Losch, unless funding is restored, schools could be forced to drop student transportation as soon as next month.
"You may see school districts that make the decision to park their fleet, which would mean that transportation to school would be interrupted," she said.
Losch said the State Police is the only agency authorized under Michigan law to inspect school buses. That means schools can't turn to outside inspectors for help.
"That would take a change in the law to do that," she said. "But at this particular time, there is no other way."
Losch says her association is working with several lawmakers to either provide the needed $1.4 million funding, or change the inspection requirements.
A class-action lawsuit against the state is also being prepared, in case no solution is worked out by the end of the month.
