Glengariff Group conducted the survey on behalf of the K-12 Alliance of Michigan. Robert McCann is executive director of the education coalition. He explains one reason for the legislature’s delay in passing the budget.
“That it wasn’t a big deal, that schools would be fine, parents didn’t mind this, and it allowed them additional time to continue negotiating other things.”
But a recent poll of 600 bipartisan voters shows that’s not necessarily the case, with 89% stating schools should have a budget in place before the start of the school year.
“Over 75% of voters say that the legislature should have their pay docked if they aren’t doing their job like this.”
Without an approved budget, McCann says superintendents and school boards can’t finalize hiring, update instructional programs or perform building repairs and upgrades.
Negotiating road funding is another reason for the K-12 budget delay.
“We are not opposed to putting more money in roads. I don’t think there’s a lot of people in Michigan that would be. But they are trying to do it by using school aid dollars to pay for it.”
89% of voters oppose this, with 80% saying school funding is their top priority.
The full survey data is available here.
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