Lawmakers in Michigan have recently approved a budget for education amounting to billions.
Inside the hearing as the budget for education is getting ready for approval (Photo: AP News)
Democrats Backed By Republicans
The recently approved $82 billion budget for education in Michigan is said to be the biggest budget to ever be approved in the state. It was approved last Wednesday after Republicans backed Democrats in the said bill for it to be implemented by the next fiscal year once Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs the bill on schedule. Democrat House Speaker Joe Tate said in a statement that this budget for education is how they make the lives of their constituents better.
Within the budget for education is the $24 billion allotted for Michigan’s schools as the state is rebuilding and recovering from the effects and setbacks brought about by the pandemic. From the budget for education, schools within the state are set to receive a 5% increase in per-pupil funding, which is from $9,150 to $9,608. A $205 million budget will also be set from the $82 billion budget for education to accommodate and aid at-risk students across the state.
More About The Bill
At present, Michigan has a $76 million budget for education but its lawmakers began formulating its final budget last February. Taking into account the high tax revenues, the budget for education will have an estimated surplus of $9 billion. The newly-approved budget for education will leave around $400 million left unspent.
A program meant to provide food for all students within the state is included in the budget for education Michigan lawmakers are coming up with ways to get the state back on its feet after suffering from the effects of the pandemic, especially within the educational sector. Pandemic-era benefits were a huge help to everyone. With that in mind, states all around the country are formulating possible solutions on how to keep them now that these benefits are coming to an end.
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