LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presented her budget recommendations today for the 2019-20 fiscal year to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Gov. Whitmer’s recommendations included programs to make college affordable and increasing pre K-12 education funding by $507 million — the largest increase since 2002. In response to the recommendations, state Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township) issued the following statement:

“We have to make college affordable again if we’re going to close the skills gap. Gov. Whitmer’s programs will create opportunity for all Michigan students to receive an affordable degree or vocational training, stay in Michigan and succeed. Gov. Whitmer’s budget also brings an end to the raid on the School Aid Fund, which allows us to expand preschool programming, invest in special education and at-risk support staff, and triple the number of literacy coaches. It also establishes funding to install hydration stations in school buildings across Michigan to ensure every child has clean drinking water.”

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