6/14/13 - A local lawmaker says heâs pleased the budget is finished more than 100 days ahead of the start of the stateâs fiscal year. State Representative Bill Rogers serves as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12 Education. The Genoa Township Republican says the budget signed Thursday by Governor Snyder includes an additional $443 million for public schools and an additional $40 million for early childhood education. He says having the budget accomplished this early will help school districts plan accordingly. Minority Democrats criticized the budget as not spending enough on education to make up for earlier cuts made by Snyder and majority Republicans in 2011. They also said Republicans should have considered giving tax relief to people after raising individualsâ taxes for the 2012 tax year and beyond. The nearly $49 billion state budget sets aside more money to fix deteriorating roads and allows for bridge maintenance. It blocks the state from paying to implement more rigorous standards in reading, writing and math until the GOP-led Legislature says it's OK. Snyder exercised few line-item vetoes, one deals with a high-speed rail project in southwestern Michigan. The spending plan goes into effect October 1st. Pictured is Governor Rick Snyder as he signs the budget in front of a group of Legislative leaders. From left; Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Rep. Bill Rogers, Rep. Joe Haveman, Speaker of the House Jase Bolger, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville and Sen. Roger Kahn. AP photo. (JM)
↧