LANSING, Mich., June 30, 2022 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed a budget that includes significant investments in education, local government services and the economy. Included in the budget is a 5% increase to the foundation allowance, bringing per-pupil funding to $9,150; $34 million for the second year expansion to the Great Start Readiness Program; and $3 million for traffic stop data collection enhancement. State Rep. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit) issued the following statement in response to the budget’s passage:
“This year’s budget makes critical investments in the Great Start Readiness Program and in Michigan’s students. While the increase to per-pupil funding is something worth celebrating, I’m not sure a one-size-fits-all funding is the best approach to provide equitable opportunity for school districts across the state. Schools with much larger budgets, especially in wealthier communities, generally have the resources they need to support their students better than our underserved school districts.
“I’m also proud of the funding in the general budget for the traffic stop data collection enhancement, which will hold law enforcement accountable for racially profiling people for simply driving their cars. However, I have real concerns that the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act did not receive any funds. People who have been wrongfully imprisoned deserve compensation for the undeserved time that they served. While you can’t place a monetary value on the life one could have lived or the number of birthdays, holidays, or family milestones a person has missed while wrongfully imprisoned, we owe it to them to help as they get reestablished in their lives.”
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