LANSING – State Representative Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Twp.) today voted for a plan that will restore $184 million in funding to schools and help ease deep cuts to education that could seriously impact Michigan's ability to prepare children for future jobs. The lawmaker also voted to move the state's School Aid Budget deadline to June 1 in order to prevent the type of budget chaos that ensued when legislators failed to reach a budget accord by Oct. 1 this year.
"We must invest in our local schools in order to prepare our students for the future and create the talented workforce that Flint and Michigan need to attract world-class job providers," Gonzales said. "Restoring this funding to our schools will help them provide the top-notch education our children need and deserve. And by changing the date our school budgets are due, we can help make sure that our schools have the resources they need to do just that."
The plan passed by the House today will leverage $184 million in federal funding, helping to ease the per-pupil cuts that were imposed on Michigan schools last month.
In addition, the House voted to move the date that the Legislature must complete the School Aid Budget from Oct. 1 to June 1. This change will better allow Michigan schools to plan for their academic school year before it begins, rather then waiting until it has already begun.
The plan also makes it a priority to provide an additional $25.7 million for Michigan's 20j schools and $25.7 million for Michigan's under-funded schools. This $51.4 million would be funded through the Michigan Future Fund once revenue is identified. Local schools that will benefit from this action include: Durand Area Schools, Flushing Community Schools, Linden Community Schools and Swartz Creek Community Schools.