- Governor Signs School Aid Budget
- Senate Scheduled to Return on Tuesday, Urge Passage of MPSERS Rate Reduction
- Go Behind the Scenes at the Capitol in September
- COSSBA Federal Advocacy Conference Open to Members
Governor Signs School Aid Budget
On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer signed House Bill 5507, the School Aid Budget, into law.
As previously reported, the budget includes a MPSERS rate reduction of about 5.8%. However, that is a one-year adjustment only. There are no assurances that the rate will be made permanent. The budget drastically cut school safety and mental health funding and does not include a foundation allowance increase, except for charter schools. Charter schools would see an increase of $57 million, approximately $375 per pupil.
On the positive side, it does include significant increases to funding for at-risk students and English language learners as well as continuing universal free meals. The Great Start Readiness Program expands eligibility to those families making up to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines. However, if all slots are not filled, then any child who will be four by Sept. 1 is eligible with no income guidelines.
MSBO and MASB held a Views From the Capitol - Budget Edition webinar on July 1 to go through the details of the budget and took questions. If you missed it, the recording is now available on MASB's YouTube channel. We also have a breakdown of the School Aid Budget by relevant sections on our website.
Senate Scheduled to Return on Tuesday, Urge Passage of MPSERS Rate Reduction
During passage of the budget, we argued the one-time MPSERS rate reduction of 5.75% would not provide any long-term relief for retirement costs. While the rate cut is appreciated, unless it is permanently reduced, it may go back up next year, and schools will have to pay the money again. This means districts will struggle to use their one-time savings for ongoing expenditures like higher salaries or new teachers.
MASB and the education community continue to push formoney to be reinvested in MPSERS to give permanent relief to the districts that have been paying down the debt. This money should stay with the districts that have borne the cost of the unfunded liabilities through the years and not be used on other programs within the state budget.
We strongly encourage you to contact your Senator and ask them to swiftly pass House Bill 5803 to provide long-term financial relief and stability for our schools and educators. The bill will codify rate reductions for districts and remove the requirement that certain staff pay 3% of their paycheck toward the now fully funded healthcare system. The future success of Michigan’s education system depends on decisive action to rectify these budgetary oversights without delay.
Go Behind the Scenes at the Capitol in September
MASB will hold its next Behind the Scenes at the Capitol event on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in the State Room of Heritage Hall in the State Capitol Building from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is a great opportunity to come to Lansing and hear from legislators and issue experts on topics currently before the Legislature.
Our agenda will include a presentation by Baldly Bipartisan’s Adrian Hemond and John Selleck on the upcoming election and a discussion on what issues could arise during the lame-duck session. It also allows for networking between districts to learn from one another.
We hope you will join us and take advantage of the opportunity to speak face-to-face about issues affecting your districts with fellow board members from around the state as well as your legislators and their staff.
COSSBA Federal Advocacy Conference Open to Members
The Consortium of State School Boards Association, of which MASB is a member, is holding a Federal Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. on September 8-10, 2024. The conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Washington, beginning with a welcome reception on the evening of the 8th, day-long programming on the 9th and a day on Capitol Hill on the 10th.
Presenters at the conference include Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communication Commission to talk about emerging technology and the continued homework gap, and a demographer to highlight population trends across the country and how they affect K-12 schools. COSSBA has also invited members of Congress and pertinent staff to address the attendees.
Registration is now open. Join Jen Smith, MASB Director of Government Relations and members of MASB’s Board of Directors in this additional opportunity to make your voice heard in our Nation’s Capital.