Dear Neighbor,

Happy August! This month, I will be hosting my monthly in-person Coffee with Christine on Friday, Aug. 23, at the Oshtemo Township Building, 7275 W. Main St., Kalamazoo, MI, at 10:30 a.m. I look forward to giving updates and answering questions!

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Legislative Updates:

Summer Legislative Work Period:

While the Legislature has been working in-district this summer, many legislative efforts have been paused. Rest assured things will pick up again when we head to Lansing again in September. In the meantime, I’ve been busy working for my constituents! The pause on voting, new bill introduction and committees has given me the opportunity to do one of my favorite things as a legislator: spending more time meeting with constituents, with other government officials, and learning from local businesses and nonprofit organizations. This networking helps me stay in tune with our local issues and ensure the work we are doing in Lansing is helping right here in our community.

Transparency is a cornerstone of effective democracy. During our recent coffee hours and other meetings, we’ve had the opportunity to discuss and explain how state funds are allocated and spent. We hope these discussions provided you with clear insights into the budget outcomes, addressed any questions or concerns you might have and ensured you are fully informed about how budget allocations were utilized.

Community Updates:

Back to School:

As many of us with school age children know, the start of the school year is just around the corner. In the spirit of back to school, I wanted to highlight the School Aid budget that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed in July. The budget invests directly in Michigan’s students by providing a $598 million base funding increase to K-12 schools across our state. This allocation translates to a 4% increase in funding per student, which averages out to an additional $400 per student compared to fiscal year 2023-24.

Highlights of the School Aid budget include:

  • $200 million in the state budget to continue to provide breakfast and lunch for all public school students.
  • Expands the Great Start Readiness Program, offering free preschool to eligible families and closing early gaps in educational opportunity.
  • Expands the Michigan Achievement College to include the Community College Guarantee, which allows high school and incoming college students who graduated high school after 2023 and are living in their community college’s district to attend tuition-free.
  • $275,000 for mental health training in schools — creating a safer and more supportive environment for all students.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship:

Students who are thinking about enrolling in college after recently graduating high school are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to unlock the financial assistance available from the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Completion of the FAFSA is required to be considered for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. To get started with the FAFSA, go to fafsa.gov. In addition to state assistance, completing the FAFSA unlocks federal aid — such as Pell Grants, student loans, work-study jobs and institutional grants.

Students and their families looking to secure more financial aid for college are encouraged to register for an informational webinar about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which is the newest Michigan scholarship program expected to impact the majority of students. All sessions are free and open to the public. Register for a session; space is limited.

Pet Owners:

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Kalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement Department. This grant has significantly improved the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners. With the funding from MDARD, the county was able to provide eight microchip scanners to local law enforcement agencies. These scanners enhance the ability of these agencies to quickly match lost animals with their families. The scanners are now in use by the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Township, the city of Portage, the village of Vicksburg, the village of Richland and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition, the county is providing 625 microchips free of charge to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

 What to do if you lose a pet:

  • Call (269) 383-8775 to report the lost pet to Kalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement (KCASE). Owners may also submit a lost or stolen pet report online. Please be aware that KCASE staff cannot say over the phone if a lost pet is at the shelter. Owners will need to come in to identify the pet.
  • Check KCASE’s website daily for a list of found pets. Note that animals in the shelter are kept for seven days before becoming eligible for adoption.
  • If the pet is microchipped, call the microchip company and make a lost report with them.
  • Report the pet missing to its veterinarian, or any vet clinics in the area where the pet was lost.

What to do if you find a lost pet:

To further assist pet owners, KCASE hopes to provide pet owners with even more opportunities to take advantage of the free microchips with a future microchipping clinic.

For more information on microchip distribution, contact the KCASEt at (269) 383-8775.

Thank you all for staying connected with my updates. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office at any time should you have questions or concerns about any legislative or local issues. My office can be reached at ChristineMorse@house.mi.gov or (517) 373-8670, and any friends or neighbors who wish to join my mailing list can do so here.

Sincerely,

Morse Signature

Christine Morse

State Representative

House District 40