LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Despite passing with bipartisan support in the House last week, local Democrats and Republicans remain split on the $16.1 billion school budget bill.
Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, said it’s a mess, saying that he was shocked legislators removed funding for merit tests.
“I’m hopeful that, once it moves through the Senate, it gets a little better, because there are some wacky things in there right now,” Hoadley said. “I mean, it’s just a joke.”
But Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Oshtemo, disagrees.
“We increased the per-pupil allowance for K-12 to $120 per student, so it’s an additional $300 million in the K-12 budget,” Iden said. “We also got an increase in higher ed.”
Democrats also weren’t pleased about a $1 million Republican-inserted line item for private schools.
The bill is expected to be on Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk before the start of summer.
