State Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) testifies in a committee meeting in the Anderson House Office Building on Nov. 13, 2024, in Lansing.
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Nov. 26, 2024 — State Rep. Matt Hall (R-Richland) proposed a plan reallocating $2.7 billion in state revenue toward roads and bridges, slashing funding for schools, housing and other development programs. Michigan’s schools currently receive nearly $1 billion in funding from the sales tax on gas. Hall’s plan would end this revenue stream to the School Aid Fund, without creating a new funding avenue for schools to offset the loss. In response to the proposed plan to cut education investments, state Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth), chair of the House Education Committee, released the following statement:
“While we as a Legislature must work together to build a budget that raises revenue for our roads and infrastructure, this proposal does more harm than good. Michiganders need safe and functioning roads, but blowing a massive hole in school funding to get there is not only irresponsible budgeting, but also harmful to the millions of students, parents and teachers who rely on our school system.
“This proposal does not raise revenue for our roads — it simply takes funding away from universal school meals, school safety infrastructure and teacher salaries, weakening our kids’ quality education. Michiganders deserve better than funding proposals that cause major structural cuts to the programs our kids need and deserve. I urge my Republican colleagues to work in tandem with us to build back our roads through responsible fiscal policy, not one that slashes school funding.”
###