State Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) speaks at an education press conference on Sept. 25, 2024, in the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing.
LANSING, Mich., Sept. 25, 2024 — State Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) celebrated today’s passage of his bill, House Bill 5803, which will return around $600 million back into schools. The bill permanently lowers the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) fund contribution rate, giving schools more savings each year to put money back into classrooms. The legislation also repeals the years-long 3% payment by certain teachers who did not opt out of retiree health care. After the bill’s passage, Koleszar issued the following statement:
“After decades of disinvestment in our student’s education, I am proud to see my legislation that puts money directly back into classrooms and teacher’s salaries cross the finish line. As a teacher-turned-legislator, I’ve seen firsthand the burden that overpaying into the retirement fund has caused for teachers and students alike. This fiscally responsible legislation undoes punitive Republican statute to return money to the classroom, where it belongs.
“This bill’s passage marks a bright day for our public schools, returning around $600 million to schools across the state. I know from conversations with teachers, students and school administrators that every school has its own unique set of funding needs. This legislation returns wrongly withheld dollars to empower schools to fund what their students need most, from combatting the teacher shortage to investing in school safety and mental health.
“Our public school teachers and students deserve to have the resources they need for every child to succeed. I am proud to see through the passage of my bill that puts schools first.”
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