5/31/13 - The Michigan House and Senate have sent a spending plan to Governor Rick Snyder for approval, and Superintendent Ron Wilson says that is good news for the Howell School district. The plan calls for a funding increase to K-12 schools of about 3%. In Howell, that equates to an increase of about $138 per student, or $1 million for the year. Democrats have criticized the spending plan, saying it does not do enough to correct previous funding cuts. Brighton is expected to get an additional $400,000 under the plan, Hartland $378,000, Pinckney $300,000 and Fowlerville $216,000. However, Wilson says his district was not expecting any increase in state funding at all, so an extra million dollars is a welcome surprise. While the additional funding is welcome, it wonât erase the districtâs deficit situation, which officials have attributed largely to past education cuts by the legislature. It will, however, mean less money will have to be used from Howellâs fund equity account to balance the budget. Some best-practices funding for public schools will be tied to new requirements, including allowing students to take a certain amount of schooling online. Wilson tells WHMI that requirement is not a concern for Howell Schools, which already offers a number of online classes. Under the plan, community colleges and universities will see a 2% increase in funding but will lose some performance-based funding if they raise tuition more than 3.75%. (TD)
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