Genesee News

The Michigan House of Representatives has approved a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year, following earlier passage of a K-12 School Aid budget in June. According to a column published by a member of the House Appropriations Committee, this marks the initial step in what is expected to be an extended budget process.

The legislator emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility amid concerns about rising government spending. "We have watched government spending increase by over 40% since the governor took office. This is a totally unsustainable path. Our state budget plan should be responsible and balanced. It must be one that provides people with the best value on their tax dollars while addressing priorities for residents and communities — like support for our students in the classroom, good local roads and robust public safety resources. That is what hardworking taxpayers deserve."

House Appropriations subcommittee chairs reviewed each section of the budget line by line, assessing legal requirements and needs. The process involved more than 130 hours of hearings, resulting in a proposal that differs significantly from prior years.

The Senate has passed its own version of the budget, which varies from the House plan in terms of overall spending levels, funding allocations, and revenue sources. In the coming weeks, legislators will work to reconcile differences between the two versions before sending a final plan to the governor for consideration.

Addressing public concerns about potential service disruptions or reductions, the legislator clarified: "Funding for all services remains in place at current levels and school funding is intact until Oct. 1, which marks the beginning of the new fiscal year."

There has also been discussion about changes to K-12 education funding under the House proposal. "Our K-12 budget invests $21.9 billion in schools, which is more than the Senate or governor’s respective plans. The House’s K-12 plan increases per-pupil funding by 20% and moves away from Lansing’s one-size-fits-all mandates by loosening restrictions on how schools can use the funding," according to the statement.

This approach aims to give school districts more flexibility to address local needs, including continued lunch programs, improved transportation options, updated textbooks, and expanded before- and after-school offerings.

"The state budget process is lengthy and meticulous for a reason. As legislators, it is imperative that we protect people’s paychecks and serve as good stewards for state dollars instead of spending them frivolously. I will continue to respect these principles as our state budget plan moves forward in the days and weeks ahead," said the lawmaker.