Public school employees’ pay and benefits could be subject to unilateral reduction in a financial emergency by the state schools superintendent under legislation introduced Wednesday in the state House.

A pair of bills introduced by state Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, would authorize school districts to request the Superintendent of Public Instruction to make the cuts if the district is in deficit and has average teacher salaries at or above the top third nationally, and benefit levels above the average level for private sector employees in the state. The legislation would override existing union contracts or labor agreements and sunset in 2011.

The proposal comes as dozens of Michigan school districts face financial crisis caused by falling property values, declining student enrollment and cuts in state aid for the 2009-10 school year that were ordered by the Legislature and Gov. Jennifer Granholm.