Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel
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Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel
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Capitol Report Archives February, 2005 January, 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Go to current Capitol Report for links to complete archive. Voting Records 2003-04 |
Executive Order Approved to Fix 2004 - 2005 Budget Early Intervention and Prevention Legislation Fall Short of Goals 20-Hour Teen Work Week Passes Senate School Bus Inspection Cuts Raise Concern Lobby Day 2005
Links to current Legislative Action Alerts
may be found on the Legislative Hotline page of this website.  Return to Top Executive Order Approved to Fix 2004 - 2005 Budget A deal has been reached between the Governor and the Legislature that will balance the current fiscal year's budget deficit. The agreement includes Executive Order 2005-7, which has been approved by a joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees; passage of the fiscal year 2005 Capital Outlay budget bill; and passage of a negative supplemental appropriations bill (HB 4308), which has been ordered enrolled. As a part of the budget agreement, $200 million in Capital Outlay bond proceeds will be made available for colleges and universities this fiscal year. Operations funding for universities and community colleges will be reduced by $30 million this year. The budget for Michigan's 15 four-year universities will cut by $25.9 million, allocated as an across- the-board 1.76 percent cut for each university. Each of the state's community colleges will also see 1.76 percent cuts in their operational funding, totaling $4.9 million. If it is found that general fund revenues have increased beyond expected levels, those institutions of higher learning will receive first call on those revenues, up to $30 million. If full restoration is not possible in 2005, an additional $100 million in bonding proceeds will be made available to universities and community colleges in fiscal year 2006. Under the agreement, MFT&SRP represented institutions of higher learning would see the following budget reductions:
Of the $205 million in bonding money contained in the budget agreement: Michigan State University is getting $27.5 million ($20 million state share) for its Chemical Building; the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) is getting $29.5 million ($20 million state share) for its Student Activities Building, Observation Lodge and Phoenix lab; the University of Michigan - Flint is getting $9.35 million ($7 million state share) for French Hall and Murchie Hall; and Wayne State University is getting $26.5 million ($15 million state share) for the Engineering Development Center. The largest cut in the Executive Order is $99.5 million in general fund revenues to the state's K-12 school aid fund although it will not actually reduce spending to schools because the earmarked taxes going to the fund are higher than expected. Return to Top Early Intervention and Prevention Legislation Fall Short of Goals A package of bills has been introduced in the Senate intending to ensure that students master basic skills to be successful in the classroom; encourage alliance between home, parents and school; and provide valuable training for teachers to implement prevention and intervention programs. The Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel maintains these bills do little to achieve the sponsor's stated goals and is lobbying in opposition until dramatic changes occur in the package. Specifically, the legislation will:
Return to Top 20-Hour Teen Work Week Passes Senate The Senate has passed a bill that would let 16- and 17-year-old high school students work a flat 20 hours a week as opposed to the current state formula that allows them a combined school and work week of 48 hours when school is in session. Last year, Governor Granholm vetoed a bill that would have allowed these teenagers to work a flat 22 hours a week, saying that education should be the students' first priority. She said she feared that allowing for more work time could sink students' scores on the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test and other standardized tests. Senate Bill 179 is the same bill, but with two less hours. If the bill becomes law, students can be asked to spend a combined 50 to 55 hours a week on school and work alone without taking into account studying, extra curricular activities and sports. Senate Bill 179 is now before the House Commerce Committee. Return to Top School Bus Inspection Cuts Raise Concern A proposal to cut mandatory school bus inspections from the state police budget drew criticism at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the Governor's State Police budget proposals. The governor's executive order proposed cutting the school bus inspections in favor of optional state inspections that would come with fees charged to school districts. The order listed the potential revenue from the fees at $1.2 million. Return to Top
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