Michigan News
House taps stimulus for schools
AP
LANSING (AP) — The Michigan House voted Thursday to tap federal stimulus money set aside for next year to soften a cut in school funding now, but it’s unlikely the move is going to win the support of the state Senate.
By a mostly party-line vote of 74-29, a majority of House members said the $184 million should be used to help schools avoid all but $10 of a $127-per-student cut Granholm ordered last month. Schools still would see their funding drop by the equivalent of $165 per student. That was the decrease lawmakers passed in the school aid budget for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1.
The bill also would give back half of the nearly $52 million Granholm vetoed from 39 of the state’s wealthier districts and spend an equal amount on school districts at the lower end of the scale.
By a mostly party-line vote of 74-29, a majority of House members said the $184 million should be used to help schools avoid all but $10 of a $127-per-student cut Granholm ordered last month. Schools still would see their funding drop by the equivalent of $165 per student. That was the decrease lawmakers passed in the school aid budget for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1.
The bill also would give back half of the nearly $52 million Granholm vetoed from 39 of the state’s wealthier districts and spend an equal amount on school districts at the lower end of the scale.





