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From our State Capitol in Lansing to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, WKAR is committed to explaining how the actions of lawmakers are affecting Michiganders. Political and government reporter Abigail Censky leads this section. There are also stories from Capitol correspondents Cheyna Roth, Rick Pluta and the Associated Press. As the 2020 presidential race begins, look here for reports on the role Michigan will play in electing or re-electing the president.

Schools In Michigan Begin Fiscal Year Without Clear State Budget

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Michigan schools will finalize their budgets Monday but without knowing how much money they’ll have to work with.

It’s the start of the new fiscal year for school districts and that means that schools in Michigan need to know now how much money they are going to use throughout the yeahr.

 

But lawmakers in Lansing have yet to give them a clear picture of what they can expect their budgets to be.

 

Republican Representative Aaron Miller is chair of a subcommittee focused on education spending. He said this situation has happened in the past.

 

“It gets ironed out and school boards have to go back and change budgets,” said Miller. “I admit that it could be a problem for some, it’s just not the end of the world. And they may end up having to make educated guesses.”

 

So far teachers and education advocates have held two rallies at the Capitol.

 

Peter Spadafore is with the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators.

 

“Right now school districts are taking stabs in the dark, hoping the state comes through with something close to what’s been proposed,” said Spadafore. “Otherwise, if it’s less than anything that’s been proposed you’re going to see a lot of districts looking at potential cuts.”

 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a spending plan in her budget. 

 

But the state Legislature has been working on spending plans of its own. Those alternate plans do not go as far with education spending as Whitmer’s proposal.

 

Before becoming the newest Capitol reporter for Michigan Public Radio Network, Cheyna Roth was an attorney. She spent her days fighting it out in court as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ionia County.
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