Governor Rick Snyder gave his final budget proposal today to mixed reviews. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle found things they did and didn’t like in Snyder’s plan for state spending in the fiscal year that starts in October.
Democratic Representative Fred Durhal is on the budget committee. He says he’s happy the governor is putting more money towards roads and schools.
Durhal says he is disappointed there isn’t money for people who were wrongly accused of unemployment fraud. The state’s unemployment agency’s computer system made tens of thousands of false fraud accusations over the course of several years. Durhal says those people need to be reimbursed more than the state already has.
Snyder wants to increase the per student foundation allowance for K-12 schools.
But when it comes to education, some people in his own party weren’t happy with other recommendations.
Republican Representative Tim Kelly chairs the House Education Reform committee. He says he’s concerned with Snyder’s proposal to reduce the amount of money spent on cyber schools.
Kelly is also concerned with Snyder’s call for a decrease in funding for shared time programs. Those allow private and home schooled kids access to certain electives through public schools.