Legislator brings needed funding home to Midland County, Beaverton, Coleman

State Representative Bill G. Schuette today secured several major budget wins that deliver important funding to the 95^th District, invest historic funding into schools and respect taxpayer dollars by eliminating wasteful spending.

“This budget brings home big wins for Mid-Michigan,” Schuette said. “With badly needed infrastructure investments in Beaverton and Coleman, increased funding for our schools – paired with performance accountability measures – all while cutting bloated bureaucratic spending, this budget delivers value for your tax dollar.”

Schuette underscored that the budget does not hike taxes or raid Michigan’s rainy-day fund, both protecting Michiganders’ pocketbooks and the state’s long-term financial stability.

“By focusing on priorities like public safety, public education and public infrastructure, we have a budget that makes smart investments, but avoids the $800 million in tax increases like the governor had recommended,” Schuette said. “Instead, this budget provides a good return on people’s tax dollars.”

The budget includes record-high per-pupil funding with a $250 increase, bringing the foundation allowance to $10,300. The plan also supports true universal breakfast and lunch programs for kids, continues investments in mental health and school safety, includes $50 million in new funding for tutoring services to help kids who are struggling, and provides resources for teacher bonuses, dual enrollment, bus services, and more.

The agreement includes cutting 250 more ghost employees – state positions that departments receive funding for but never fill. These dollars often get funneled to other department priorities that officials seek to keep hidden from the public. Cutting ghost employees ensures that departments must be transparent about how they spend their resources.

In addition to historic school funding and accountability measures, the budget authorizes the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to spend $4 million to address dam safety emergencies. Schuette has consistently advocated for resources and more oversight in the Legislature to address this vital infrastructure. He also fought for multiple local investments as part of the agreement, including $450,000 that will go to water main work for the city of Beaverton, $650,000 for the city of Coleman to make improvements to an existing sanitary sewer lift station that serves the community’s industrial district, and $400,000 for renovations at Sanford Lake Park.

“These projects are a big deal for Coleman and Beaverton and I am glad they were funded,” Schuette said. “This is a budget that returns tax dollars to residents by taking less of their money and funding projects that help make their communities even better places to live, work and raise a family.”

The plan now moves to the governor for review.