Several local superintendents are expressing concerns about a bill passed by the Michigan House of Representatives last week that could take millions of dollars in future funding away from schools to pay for the repair of the state’s roads.

The House bill would essentially take gas sales tax money that currently goes to schools and municipalities and redirect it toward roads, according to Rep. Dave Pagel, who voted against the bill.

“I am concerned about school funding and that’s why I opposed the bill in the House,” he said. “They (schools) are about as lean and mean as they can be now.”

Berrien County’s schools could stand to lose about $11.5 million annually if the bill is adopted, according to figures provided in a letter to the editor sent to the Daily Star signed by more than a dozen area superintendents, including those at Niles, Brandywine and Buchanan.

Niles Community Schools could lose $1.8 million, or about 5 percent of its annual budget. Brandywine would lose about $674,000 and Buchanan $757,000.

“It would be incredibly devastating to us,” said Niles Supt. Michael Lindley. “We would have to reduce staff, increase class sizes, cut programs all together. We wouldn’t be very happy with the results.”

Pagel said area superintendents should not be too concerned about the bill moving forward intact.

He said a conference committee is currently working on coming up with a road-funding plan based on what was passed by the House and what was passed by the Senate. The Senate’s plan, which varies greatly from the House plan, would raise the gas tax significantly without impacting school funding.

“I think the House bill will be changed dramatically before this is all over,” Pagel said. “I think they will come up with a plan that isn’t a danger to the schools, I hope, and does come up with revenue for roads.”

The House plan also included a stipulation that guaranteed appropriations for school aid funding would not decrease from present levels, Pagel said.

Sen. John Proos also does not believe the House bill will pass as it stands now.

“I do not anticipate that bill will come up before the Senate to vote on directly,” he said. “Instead I think you will see it as part of a package if it is included at all.”

The House and Senate are both working to decide out a road-funding plan by Thursday.

Lindley is encouraging people to contact their local legislators about the House bill.

“If they don’t hear from people they might assume that people are supportive of it,” he said.