LANSING, Mich. – The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Association of State Universities Chief Executive Officer Daniel Hurley:

“The purpose of the state’s School Aid Fund (SAF) is to support all levels of education, including specifically higher education, as stipulated in the Michigan Constitution. As legislative leaders work on finalizing a FY 2026 state budget, the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU) urges lawmakers to increase the proportion of SAF dollars in the higher education budget as the most effective route to achieving state educational, workforce, and economic goals.

“Allocating a larger share of SAF dollars to support university operations, as the House has proposed, does not take away existing funding from K-12. House Fiscal Agency data illustrates that universities currently receive only two percent of SAF dollars, which in turn represents 20 percent of the higher education budget. Utilizing a portion of new growth in the SAF will support college affordability in a more consistent and reliable manner, while strengthening the state’s entire pre-K through postsecondary educational system. Doing so will still allow record funding for K-12 education while freeing up more General Fund dollars to fund other state priorities.”