2/6/14 - A local lawmaker says the difficult decisions made over the past four years are helping boost education and the future of the state. Governor Rick Snyderâs proposed 2015 budget calls for putting $609.3 million more into education programs ranging from early childhood to college. State Representative Bill Rogers is the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12 Education. The Genoa Township Republican says heâs pleased to see across-the-board increases in education funding. "I think it's very good news because we have set a pattern of increasing funding for education. We want accountability and transparency and we've followed through with that path." But with Governor Snyder facing re-election this year, he's been criticized over past education spending decisions. Democrats and others say the reality is that millions were previously slashed from education, with students and teachers suffering the consequences. Democratic gubernatorial challenger Mark Schauer criticized Snyderâs budget as being stingy on classroom funding especially in light of an expected billion dollar budget surplus. A 6% funding boost is proposed for public universities while recommendations would increase the minimum foundation allowance for K-12 schools and result in an average per-pupil increase of about $100 per student. The payments would range between $83 and $111 per pupil as poorer districts get a larger share of the increase. AP Photo-Al Goldis (JK)
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