(The Center Square) – As budget negotiations continue to stall, state officials are warning of the potential consequences if action is not taken quickly.
Failure to pass the 2025-2026 state budget has led to uncertainty, especially for schools as they start the school year unsure if funding will come.
“Our students and educators deserve better,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “I don’t ever recall in my career so little clarity about approximately where school funding in the annual budget will land. It is troubling and, if not rectified very soon with the passage of a reasonable budget for schools, will ultimately hurt children.”
July 1 was the legally mandated statutory deadline for the finalization of the entire budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, including a K-12 education spending budget. The new fiscal year is set to begin Oct. 1, or in just 41 days. If a deal is not made by then on the budget, the state could face a government shutdown.
Michigan has not faced that since 2009, when a shutdown lasted mere hours before the budget was finalized.
The House and Senate failed to reach an agreement on the education budget after Republicans and Democrats proposed vastly different plans, as previously reported by The Center Square.
With the Senate and governorship run by Democrats and the House run by Republicans, compromise will be necessary on the budget.
Yet, some are already warning that a shutdown could be coming again. Democrats are pointing fingers at the Republicans for the delay.
“This is unprecedented chaos and it’s because of one change that we’ve seen in the array of power here in Michigan, and that is Speaker [Matt] Hall,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids.
Republicans are blaming Democrats.
“House Republicans passed the best education budget in Michigan history and a $3B roads plan,” said Speaker of the House Matt Hall, R-Richland Township. “Senate Dems? Can’t agree with Whitmer, can’t agree with each other, and won’t move a thing. While we deliver, they delay. Democrats need to get in line with both Whitmer and House Republicans and move these budgets NOW.”
House Appropriations Chair Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, has been more hopeful that a resolution might be coming, possibly even as soon as next week with the proposal of a comprehensive budget plan.
The Republicans’ budget would include significant cuts to “wasteful habits” and “slush funds” that have taken “root in state government.”
“We did the hard work of going through this budget line by line,” Bollin said. “Every dollar we cut from bureaucracy and waste is a dollar we can put toward the real priorities of Michigan families. You’re going to see a budget that respects taxpayers and focuses on fixing roads, keeping our communities safe, making life more affordable, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.”
Both sides have argued that a lack of negotiations will continue to stall the finalization of the budget.
“House Republicans are distracting folks from the real issue facing our schools: they don't have an education budget,” said House Democrats. “They don't have a leg to stand on, so they play political games.”
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