Michigan House Approves School Funding Cuts (MI)

May 9, 2011

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan House on Thursday narrowly approved legislation that would cut state aid to public schools, community colleges and universities for the budget year that begins in October.

The measure passed 57-53 in the Republican-led chamber mostly along party lines, with six members of the GOP joining Democrats in opposition.

It was a politically difficult vote for many lawmakers, assailed by education groups that are fiercely lobbying against the cuts. Republicans who voted for the measure acknowledged the vote was tough, but said it was necessary.

“Today was a very difficult vote,” said House Speaker Jase Bolger, a Republican from Marshall. “It’s never easy to contain spending.”

The Republican-led Senate has passed its own version of education spending cuts for next budget year. Differences between the two versions must be reconciled before a plan can become law, meaning lawmakers will have to vote on education funding plans again before they wrap up budget votes for the year.

The House proposal would cut the state’s per-student foundation grant by an additional 3.5 percent, with cuts ranging from $256 to $297 per student. That’s on top of a $170 per student cut that’s already in place and would be continued into next fiscal year.