LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jim Runestad on Tuesday voted to send the governor a balanced fiscal year 2020 budget that increases investments in key priorities while living within the state’s means.
“I am proud that today we sent the governor a fiscally responsible budget without any new taxes,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “The 2020 budget prioritizes investments in our children, our families and Oakland County’s most vulnerable residents.”
Last week, the Legislature finalized the school budget. House Bill 4242 would invest $15.2 billion in K-12 education, a boost of over $2.2 billion in school funding since FY 2011.
Under that bill, schools would also see a foundation allowance boost of between $120 and $240 per pupil, $522 million invested to help at-risk students, a $21.5 million increase in career and technical education funding, and a $60 million increase for special education.
“We scoured the budget to find more money to invest in rebuilding our roads and bridges,” Runestad said. “Just as the K-12 budget is an investment in our children’s future, the transportation budget represents an investment in our infrastructure.”
Senate Bill 149, the transportation budget, would invest $5.4 billion in transportation in FY 2020.
The budget bills given final legislative approval on Tuesday would invest $120 million in drinking water protections and assist efforts to respond to public health hazards. The budget plan also includes funding to train new state police troopers and corrections officers, language requiring state departments to work together to ensure veterans receive their benefits and increased funding to local governments to provide police and fire protection.
The budget bills now head to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for final consideration.