LANSING, Mich. (May 27, 2021) — Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills) has issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on her K-12 funding priorities using federal American Rescue Plan money and recently announced increased state revenue dollars:
“This is a great day for Michigan’s students. For years, Michigan has left much to be desired when it comes to equitable and adequate school funding, placing our students at a competitive disadvantage. It should not matter whether a family lives in Pontiac or Petoskey, or Clarkston or Calumet when it comes to giving every child a fair shot at academic success. As someone who has prioritized this issue since first arriving in the Senate, I am thrilled to see the opportunity exist for such unparalleled investments and look forward to providing my full support.”
In just a year, Michigan has gone from a nearly $3 billion deficit to a $3.5 billion surplus, with a state budget that is primed for investment. All told, the governor’s plan expects to utilize the state’s surplus to propose over $1.7 billion in one-time funding and allocate more than $900 million for ongoing investments, representing Michigan’s most significant investment in public education to date.
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