LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — Once again the legislature has approved next year’s budget, that isn’t due until October, well ahead of schedule.
Getting it done early is good news for local school districts who are required to have their budgets completed by July 1st. This way they know how much they will actually have to spend next school year.
On their last day of session before summer break, they sent the Omnibus General Fund Budget and the Education Budget, what they call the “Schoolbus” to the Governor.
State Rep. Laura Cox, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, says it increases funding for education and roads, and sends some money to the rainy day fund.
It also spends $60-million improving school security.
Kalamazoo Democrat Jon Hoadley says funding has been increased for roads and schools because it’s an election year and while he could support the General Fund Budget, he could not vote for the school aide spending because of a provision added at the last minute that could jeopardize two Kalamazoo Elementary schools.
It would permit the state to alter agreements between the State Superintendent and local struggling school districts.
Kalamazoo’s Woodward and Washington Magnet Schools have such agreements that prevented their closure last year.
The $56.8-billion dollar budget is smaller than this year’s spending plan because they plan to spend less on social services and healthcare and close a prison in the coming year.
