LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Mark Huizenga on Wednesday voted for the fiscal year 2023-24 school aid fund budget after securing more funding for at-risk students and tuition restraint at state universities and local community colleges.
“Providing an effective education is critical to the future of our children, our state and the entire country,” said Huizenga, R-Walker. “While not perfect, this education budget builds on the record-high support for schools we passed last year, pays down retirement debt, and supports all types of learning — because education is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor.”
Senate Bill 173 is a school aid fund omnibus budget bill that provides funding for the state’s K-12 schools as well as the state’s 15 public universities and all local community colleges.
The bill features a 5% foundation allowance increase to $9,608 per student and a $200 million deposit into the higher education MPSERS retirement plan.
In the final version of the bill, Huizenga was able to secure:
- A $204 million funding increase for at-risk students.
- A tuition restraint of 4.5% with penalty language.
- A 19.8% increase in funding for Grand Valley State University.
“The additional at-risk funding will help ensure all our children get the education they need to succeed,” Huizenga said. “While the tuition restraint is not the complete tuition freeze that I proposed in May, it’s an important step in solving the problem of out-of-control tuition increases that are making it harder for families to afford higher education for their children.”
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