LANSING (WKZO) -- Governor Rick Snyder has revealed his proposed budget for 2013 and it’s confirmed the best hopes and worst fears of supporters and critics.
It includes some new funding opportunities for schools, universities and cities, but they will have to jump through some hoops first to get it. It also includes new fees and gas taxes to fund MDOT and road repairs.
Snyder concedes that it will not restore schools, colleges or local governments to pre-recession funding levels despite the fact that there is a surplus in the school fund budget.
Snyder is also calling for an increase in funding for law enforcement, proposing a 16% hike for state police, and more cops for troubled cities in eastern Michigan.
Other highlights:
-The proposed establishing of a new $60 million home heating assistance program.
-State investment of $50 million into ongoing funding for technology upgrades and automation opportunities.
-$49 million to subsidize coverage for autistic children.
Governor Snyder is proposing a three-percent funding increase for community colleges and universities based on new distribution formulas.
For community colleges funding will be distributed based upon their share of the total number of certificate and associate degree completions.
For universities funding will be distributed based upon the growth in the number of undergraduate degree completions, the number of undergraduate completions in critical skills areas, the number of undergraduate Pell Grant recipients and compliance with tuition restraint.
