TRAVERSE CITY -- Governor Snyder announced his 2012 budget plan Thursday including some new funding for schools, but that comes with some stipulations.
In several tweets the governor broke down part of the plan. It includes creating safer places to live and work by increasing public safety spending by roughly $50 million. Increasing funding to colleges and universities by 3 percent and boosting K-12 school funding, including $200 million for the schools who meet best practice standards.
Snyder also wants to save $130 million in the state's rainy day fund, and increase funding for projects that make local governments more efficient. The governor says the budget is now balanced despite the $1.5 billion debt we faced a year ago.
The chief financial officer with Traverse City Area Public Schools says he's not on board with the governor's education funding plan.
"The way the governor is distributing the funds doesn't change the allocations to schools relative to where they stand and in fact provides more money for the higher funded school systems in the state. So as crazy as this is, last year the governor provided more money for the richest school districts in the state... Same thing is happening with this recommendation," said Paul Soma.
At the college level however, Ferris State President David Eisler welcomed the increased funding in the governor's budget plan.
"After the cuts the last two years, this new funding is much appreciated," said Eisler. "Ferris will use this new support to restrain costs and continue to increase degree completion, especially in critical STEM areas." STEM meaning degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.
Ferris State is located in Big Rapids.
