LANSING – Genesee County's House Democrats today blasted Republicans for proposing to take money from the School Aid Fund – an unprecedented act – and slash $20 from per pupil funding in a wrong-headed strategy to balance the budget this year.
"This Republican plan balances the budget on the backs of our school children, and that's wrong," Rep. Paula Zelenko (D-Burton) said. "This is a terrible plan because it deprives school children in Genesee County of crucial funds that can help them get the education and the training they need to compete for the good-paying jobs of the 21st-Century."
Rep. Brenda Clack (D-Flint), a teacher for more than three decades, said: "Schools are laying off teachers, cutting important programs for students and struggling to hire more math and science teachers, and the last thing we should be doing is cutting funds to students. We should be increasing the amount of money we spend on educating our kids, not less."
House Republicans want to take $20 from each student in Michigan public schools to pay for other items. The plan will cost a total of $34 million that Republicans want to take from the School Aid Fund, which is dedicated to funding for K-12 students.
"Our kids cannot compete in a 21st-Century world without being given the tools needed to do so," Rep. Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Township) said. "This plan is short-sighted, it threatens our kids' futures and it's going to hurt our economy in the long run."
Rep. John J. Gleason (D-Flushing) said: "Our school children need every dollar so they can get a good education. Taking money away from them is the wrong thing to do. For our kids to make strides forward, school funding cannot be put in reverse."
Under the Republican plan, Genesee County's public schools will lose thousands of dollars, including Flint City School District ($345,526); Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools ($69,943); Flushing Community Schools ($91,028); Davison Community Schools ($107,157); and Swartz Creek Community Schools ($84,901). Grand Blanc Community Schools will also lose $161,345 under the plan.