LANSING (WWJ) -- The Michigan House has overwhelmingly approved a $65 billion state spending plan, which will also release billions in federal COVID-19 relief aid for K-12 schools.
An agreement was reached between the Republican-led House and Governor Gretchen Whitmer late Thursday night, but approval from the Senate is still pending.
The bipartisan budget passed just before the July 1 deadline, and includes the governor’s proposal to make the largest investment in K-12 public schools in Michigan’s history, eliminating the funding gap among school districts.
The proposal comes 27 years after Michigan originally overhauled the financing of public education in 1994.
“The bills passed by the House today represent bipartisan progress in the budget process and are a step in the right direction as we continue Michigan’s economic jumpstart,” Whitmer said. “This framework is a strong start and proposes historic investments in public education, bumps up pay for direct care workers, and puts more people on tuition-free paths to higher education and skills training.”
“However,” she added, “we still have a lot of work to do to get this across the finish line, and I look forward to action from the Senate by July 1st so we can deliver for Michigan’s families, small businesses, and communities.”
The budget also provides funding or expansion for programs such as the Michigan Reconnect job training program, the Great Start Readiness Program, the Clean Slate initiative, and a wage increase for direct care workers who care for the state's most vulnerable residents.
With the School Aid Budget approved by the House, school leaders are now united in urging the Senate to quickly approve the bill and send it to the Governor’s desk.
“We appreciate the overwhelming bi-partisan support of this budget that addresses many of our critical needs,” Rockford Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Michael Shibler said. “Swift action by the Michigan Senate will allow us to put these needed resources to use serving students as the next school year is right around the corner.”
Although the next fiscal year does not start until October 1, a law requires lawmakers to send the governor a plan by July 1. The spending plan could be delayed if a deal isn't reached by that time.
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