LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) Michigan state lawmakers will be back in session on Tuesday for more budget talks. It’s been two weeks since the House and Senate adjourned after being unable to reach a deal over school funding.
The Democratic controlled Senate has wanted to pass the entire state budget at once. That would seem that is unlikely to happen any time soon, especially since the Republican-led House still hasn’t unveiled most of its department budget proposals. Meanwhile, House leadership wants to start with passing school and road funding plans side-by-side.
Another sticking point seems to be whether to continue funding specific items like free school meals, or give districts more money in general and let them choose what to do with it.
The Republican House speaker Matt Hall, has said he offered to add some school funding earmarks favored by Democrats back into the budget. Democrats however say they want to see more of the budget first.
According to state statute lawmakers are instructed to pass the next fiscal year budget by July 1st a deadline they missed two weeks ago. This earlier budget deadline reduces the risk of a government shutdown, and allows school districts to know what funding will be available to them as they craft their own budgets for the upcoming school year.
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