Reaction to Governor Rick Snyder's budget proposal varies among different groups.
College and university groups are praising the governor’s spending plan. Snyder is calling for a two percent increase for universities. That would represent the fourth consecutive year of increases after significant cuts during the governor’s first year in office.
Michael Boulus directs the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.
“He made it very clear today he’s going to continue to invest in higher education. And we’re delighted with the news, particularly with the budget in disarray as it is.”
But Boulos says he’s concerned that Snyder proposed capping tuition increases at 2.8 percent. He says he hopes state lawmakers will increase that number in the final budget.
Democratic state lawmakers say Governor Snyder’s proposed budget doesn’t increase education funding enough. It would boost school funding by $75 per student across the state. But state Representative Sam Singh says some school districts could still be hurt because they’re losing grants.
"Some school districts will get a little more, some will get less. And there is the possibility once we see the actual breakdowns from individual school districts that school districts will have actually have less money this year than they did last year.”
But Singh says he’s glad to see the governor calling for $100-million for schools with high populations of poor students.
Public employee unions say they’re encouraged by Snyder’s budget presentation. The governor is proposing cuts to many state departments to help close a $300-million budget hole. But he says he doesn’t expect “massive layoffs” of state workers. Nick Ciaramitaro with AFSCME Council 25 – which represents public employees says that’s encouraging.
“The public sector, which we represent, is the one segment of the economy that continues to be reduced in terms of employment. And I don’t think that’s healthy overall.”
But Ciaramitaro says he’s anxious to see the details of the plan to cut state departments.
