LANSING – The Michigan Senate, in near-unanimous votes on Wednesday, approved key items of the 2022 state budget and allocated billions more in federal coronavirus relief funds, while reserving parts of the budget for work additional.
Michigan’s 2022 fiscal year does not begin until October 1. But the fiscal year for school districts begins July 1. Lawmakers wanted to give school districts clear directions on what funding to expect.
Bills passed by the Senate are not identical to those passed earlier by the House, meaning that additional consensus must be reached before they can be sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for his signatures.
The Senate:
- Passed Bill 4411, closing the long-standing funding gap between the state’s best and least funded school districts by providing a base grant of $ 8,700 per student for all school districts in the state. It’s the same foundation grant that the House approved last Thursday. The $ 17.1 billion bill – slightly richer than the $ 16.7 billion version previously passed by State House – also boosts preschool, special education, mental health and literacy programs .
- Passage of Bill 4410, granting local governments a 2.1% increase in statutory revenue sharing for cities, towns and townships, bringing the total to $ 266.2 million, while also providing $ 912 million in constitutional revenue sharing, $ 188 million in county revenue sharing and $ 43.4 million in county incentive funding. The bill also provides $ 160 million in grants to hospitals and $ 100 million to long-term care facilities.
- Passed House amended version of Senate Bill 28, sending at least one budget bill to Whitmer’s office. The bill allocates $ 10 million to help medical providers who may show they have been hurt by rate cuts resulting from Michigan’s 2019 changes to its no-fault auto insurance law.
“These funds are immediately a priority as we take a close look at the unique federal funding we have received and how we best use them to bring about lasting improvement and investment in our state,” said Senator Jim Stamas, R- Midland , Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
After:State House Approves $ 16.7 Billion School Assistance Plan Eliminating School District Funding Gap
After:Michigan Senate set to move school budget before July 1 deadline
Senator Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, said the school aid budget reflects “exactly how we should prioritize our budget now and in the years to come”.
“I am more than happy to end the ‘two tier system’ of school funding… which has created a funding gap between the wealthiest and poorest districts in the state,” Polehanki said in a statement. Press.
The Schools Funding Bill passed 33-1, with only Senator Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, voting no. The other bill was passed 34-0.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @ paulegan4. Learn more about Michigan politics and subscribe to our election bulletin.
