Dianda Says Budget Fails Michigan Students & Drivers

State Representative Scott Dianda is blasting Governor Rick Snyder for his state budget proposal.

In a statement, the Calumet Democrat said the proposal included a pitifully small increase in state per-pupil funding, and virtually nothing for local governments.

Dianda said $2,000 more per pupil is needed in the state’s lowest funded schools, much more than the $240 proposed in the budget.

Dianda also railed against the governor’s proposed $175 million more for transportation, saying drivers throughout Michigan are still dodging potholes and falling cement from bridges three years after the state supposedly dedicated money to do a better job of fixing the roads.

Here is the full statement from State Representative Scott Dianda:

LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018-19 today, which included a pitifully small increase in state per-pupil funding, and virtually nothing for local governments. In response, state Rep. Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) issued the following statement:

“Gov. Rick Snyder apparently didn’t learn anything from Amazon passing over Michigan because they think we don’t have the talented workers they need. Instead of using that loss of a lot of good jobs for Michigan workers as an opportunity to step up and really give our kids top-notch schools and teachers, he recommended only $240 more per pupil in our lowest-funded schools. According to a study, we need $2,000 more per pupil in order to really ensure that our kids have great teachers and the tools they need to learn and thrive. The extra $240 for these schools is better than nothing, but it’s only a drop in the bucket and we need to do much more for all of our schools.

“The governor also talked about $175 million more for transportation, yet drivers throughout Michigan are still dodging potholes and falling cement from bridges three years after we supposedly dedicated money to do a better job of fixing our roads. When are people going to see the benefits of this money that is supposedly going into maintenance and repair? So far all my residents have seen are more car repair bills to fix the damage from the potholes they couldn’t dodge.”