LANSING, Mich. (July 1, 2022) — Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills) has issued the following statement after the Michigan Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which includes an increase in funding for special education in Michigan classrooms and funding for Bloomfield Hill’s Ascend Foundation:
“I am proud to see these investments being made into our schools and community. Increasing funding for special education in schools is crucial in making sure all our students are being prioritized in our schools, regardless of how they learn. As a staunch advocate for public education for years, I am glad to see my colleagues were able to come together and appropriate dollars toward necessary education needs.
“In addition, putting funding towards the Ascend Foundation provides much needed resources to help make sure our community is being uplifted and supported. Investing in our youth’s education and extracurricular support systems only helps this community continue to thrive and be a great place to live.”
Among the included budget items that Sen. Bayer fought for, and that will benefit residents, are:
- $50 million for the MI Nonprofit Association’s Small Nonprofit Relief Fund
- $1 million for a railroad improvement project(s) in the City of Plymouth to help with traffic flow
- $500,000 for Gleaners Food Bank
- $500,000 for education and workforce programming for disadvantaged youth underserved neighborhoods for the Ascend Foundation in Bloomfield Hills
With $19.6 billion from the School Aid Fund and $15.3 billion from the General Fund, the budget passed prioritizes education and provides for a $450 per-pupil increase in the K-12 foundation allowance, bringing the total to $9,150 per student. Additionally, $1.92 billion has been earmarked for special education resources.
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