House proposal is a $2 billion loss to K-12 schools

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan House Republicans unveiled a $54.6 billion general fund budget yesterday. When combined with their $21.9 billion education budget proposed earlier this summer, state education leaders are urging lawmakers to go back to the negotiating table to ensure the final budget puts the future of Michigan students first. 

“Adequate funding is the foundation that sets Michigan students up for long term success. It’s how we deliver a K-12 education system that provides smaller class sizes, mental health supports, wraparound services, and other resources we know creates an education environment where students can reach their full potential,” said Peter Spadafore, executive director of the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity. “Unfortunately, the House budgets do none of those things.

Education leaders point to $2 billion in cuts or shifts away from K-12 school funding in the House budget proposals that will negatively impact public schools, including:

• Diverting $1.474 billion in School Aid Fund (SAF) dollars to Higher Education;
• Cutting $598 million in SAF dollars used to offset retirement costs, which will result in increased payroll obligations in school districts across the state; and
• Redirecting gas sales tax revenue away from schools, resulting in a net cut of $750 million.

“The governor and Senate have both proposed comprehensive, sustainable budgets that prioritize student need and achievement while the House has failed to propose realistic budget that can provide the services and supports our districts need,” said Dr. Tina Kerr., executive director of the Michigan Association of Superintendents and School Administrators.

“Already, more than 600 school districts are starting school without knowing what their final funding will be for the year and will eventually be forced to rework their contingency budgets to match what eventually becomes final. This is the very definition of government waste, and the blame at this point falls directly on the State House for leaving things so late. Michigan schools need the Senate, House and Gov. Whitmer to work together in the best interest of our students, and they need to do it immediately” said Dr. John Severson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators.

“Principals are already being forced to redraw schedules and increase class sizes because budget uncertainty is driving staff cuts. That means fewer course offerings and fewer opportunities for students. On top of that, families are being left to wonder if school lunch programs will continue uninterrupted. These are not abstract numbers on a spreadsheet — these are real impacts on kids, and the longer the House delays a responsible budget, the more harm it does to Michigan students,” said Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals Executive Director Wendy Zdeb.

“School boards have been forced to approve budgets and make staffing and academic programming decisions based on a House and Senate that have wildly different budgets,” said Michigan Association of Schools Boards Executive Director Don Wotruba. “We may live in highly polarized political environment, but our schools are counting on our lawmakers and the governor to put their differences aside and do what’s right for Michigan’s kids. We need a budget that gives our students the resources they need, and we need it now.”