Sturgis-Coldwater News

State Representative Jennifer Wortz criticized Democratic leaders in the Michigan Senate for leaving Lansing on the day of Michigan's statutory budget deadline. Their departure, according to Wortz, hindered efforts to pass a budget by the required date.

"House Republicans made every effort to get a deal done in time, staying late into the evening trying to get a compromise sorted out the day it was due," Wortz stated. "Unfortunately, Senate Democrats evidently had no commitment to resolving a budget deal and left hours before the deadline. They let down their constituencies, their colleagues, and all of our school districts across the state who were depending on them to help pass a budget."

Although Michigan's fiscal year does not end until September 30th, state law mandates that a new fiscal year's budget be passed by July 1st. This requirement aims to minimize government shutdown risks and assist school districts in planning their budgets for the upcoming academic year.

By not passing a school aid budget by July 1st, Senate Democrats may compel school districts to prepare overly cautious budgets without knowing what funds will be available.

"Michigan ranks in the bottom ten for educational performance in the whole country, and we cannot possibly hope to improve if we do not give schools the tools they need to succeed," Wortz added. She highlighted Republican-led initiatives such as phonics-based reading standards and increased funding for schools that remain pending in the Senate. "While we wait on Democrat leadership to take up these critical pieces of legislation, they show no urgency in getting any work done for our schools."