In a rare bi-partisan moment Tuesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law the 2022 School Budget after the GOP- controlled legislature approved it last week.
In what Governor Whitmer says has been ‘years in the making’ the new $17.1 billion school budget will eliminate the per-pupil funding gap, meaning every student in the state will get a base line funding of $8400, regardless of their zip code.
Governor Whitmer joined a number of public-school educators at East Kentwood High School Tuesday to sign the paperwork, and did not downplay the historical significance of the moment—something she said lawmakers had been trying to do since 1994.
“It is a big deal,” Whitmer said.
The signing Tuesday comes on the heels of the GOP controlled legislature approving the budget last week. Whitmer, who has often been at odds with Republican lawmakers throughout the pandemic, thanked both the House and Senate for the show of unity.
Last week, the governor signed a separate bill that will allocate $4.4 billion in from federal coronavirus relief to K-12 schools, however, Whitmer said Tuesday that did not go towards eliminating the spending gap—and says she believes the budget will be sustainable in following years to come.
