Although fiscal 1995 is 10 months away for the state, Gov. John Engler said last week that he will unviel his proposed budget on Dec. 14 for lawmakers to use in their debate over school finance reform.
Engler said the early release of his budget will give the Legislature a framework for discussing specific reductions to help put together "a comprehensive school finance reform package."
"Before the end of the year, we must make critical decisions that will afect Michigan's future for many years to come," Engler said in a press release. "It's vitally important that the members of the Legislature have critical information on how their school finance reform decisions will affect the entire state budget."
Michigan's fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.
The governor has set a yearend deadline for the Legislature to vote on a plant to replace more than $6 billion of school operating property taxes and restructure primary and secondary education. In July, lawmakers eliminated the taxes, effective July 1, 1994, without a plan to replace the revenues.
Engler, meanwhile, has proposed a 50% increase in the state sales tax and other measures to raise revenues, which he wants to place on the ballot in February or March as a single constitutional question.
While the Senate and the House have passed differing pieces of legislation dealing with the structure of education, neither chamber has taken action on a school financing plan.
