State law requires a budget by July 1, Neither the House or Senate are even showing up.
LANSING, Mich.—The statutory deadline for the Michigan Legislature to deliver a budget to the Governor expired today. Both the State House of Representatives and State Senate have decided not to come to Lansing tomorrow.
This is a failure of leadership. Full stop.
School districts across Michigan are required by law to adopt their budgets by June 30. They did. The Legislature cannot say the same, and that double standard is unacceptable.
We are calling on the House and Senate to return to Lansing tomorrow and get this done.
Michigan’s students and schools are counting on a School Aid budget that reflects real investment in their future. Our organizations strongly support:
Weighted funding for English Language Learners and At-Risk students
An inflationary per-pupil increase that keeps pace with rising costs
Pupil count stabilization to protect districts facing declining enrollment
Flexible school safety and mental health funding that more schools can actually use
No further diversion of K-12 dollars to higher education
A budget that achieves all of this was within reach. It still is, but only if lawmakers show up and do their jobs.
The Legislature sets its own deadlines. It’s time they held themselves to them.
