State Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) speaks on the House Floor on HB 5803 on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in the State Capitol Building.

 

LANSING, Mich. Oct. 3, 2024 — State Rep. Matt Koleszar’s (D-Plymouth) bill returning about $600 million back into public schools was signed into law today. House Bill 5803 permanently lowers the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System fund contribution rate, freeing up millions for Northville, Plymouth-Canton and Livonia schools to put dollars back into classrooms and teacher’s salaries. Koleszar said he is proud to see his bill that puts his community’s local students and teachers first be signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

“When teachers are in charge, we get things done. I know from conversations with the students and educators in this district that years of overpayment into the retirement fund has taken a real toll on our school’s resources. This is fiscally responsible legislation that empowers our schools to put their funding towards what matters most — students,” said Koleszar, chair of the House Education Committee. “Northville, Plymouth-Canton and Livonia schools are full of bright minds and dedicated educators. As a teacher-turned-legislator, I am beyond happy to get this legislation across the finish line to equip our schools with the funds they need for our students to succeed. I also want to extend my gratitude to my fellow Democratic legislators and Gov. Whitmer for their commitment to putting kids and teachers at the forefront of the work we do here in Michigan.”

Local superintendents and teachers in Koleszar’s district celebrated the direct investments into local classrooms that the new law brings, ensuring their schools have a new, stable source of funding to uplift students.

“With the passage of HB 5803, school districts across Michigan will gain vital stability in their funding, allowing us to better serve our students, schools and staff,” said Andrea Oquist, superintendent of Livonia Public Schools. “We appreciate the efforts to make this rate reduction permanent, which underscores the benefits of paying down debt incurred decades ago. The funding provided by this bill represents a direct investment in our classrooms, ensuring that the children entrusted to us are the primary beneficiaries of this legislation.”

“This is a big win for teachers across Michigan,” said JJ Lockwood, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools teacher. “The permanent removal of the 3% teacher tax will have a real impact on my paycheck and those of my colleagues. This is why it’s nice having teachers like Matt Koleszar in Lansing to advocate for common sense changes that improve the lives of those in the classroom.”

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