South Michigan News

State Rep. Sarah Lightner highlighted the significant impact that budget cuts will have on local school districts, specifically targeting school safety and mental health funding. Lightner, R-Springport, opposed the budget, which reduced per-pupil school safety grants by 92%, leaving only $26.5 million after a $300 million cut.

“These drastic cuts strip our schools of the resources they need to keep our children safe,” Lightner said. “We need to invest in our schools, not strip them of the resources they desperately need. Our kids’ futures depend on it.”

New data compiled by the House Fiscal Agency illustrates how much funding local school districts and charter schools are set to lose based on the latest school count numbers:

District Safety Funding Cut

- Athens Area Schools: $97,593

- Climax Scotts Community Schools: $122,297

- Columbia School District: $302,314

- Concord Community Schools: $134,607

- Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools: $206,405

- Harper Creek Community Schools: $592,065

- Homer Community Schools: $184,010

- Hanover/Horton Schools: $211,588

- Mar Lee School District: $63,147

- Marshall Academy: $52,588

- Marshall Public Schools: $544,422

- Northwest Community Schools: $729,815

- Springport Public Schools: $199,825

- Tekonsha Community Schools: $43,726

- Union City Community Schools: $192,435

- Vicksburg Community Schools: $569,873

- Western School District: $567,501

The budget also provides no increase to core per-pupil school funding for the first time since 2011.

The Michigan Education Association (MEA), a union for teachers and school employees, has called for the Legislature to pass a supplemental spending bill to reverse the cut to school security and mental health distribution.

The cuts were included in the budget negotiated between the governor and the Democrats who control the Legislature. The education budget passed the Legislature along purely partisan lines.