Featured photo: Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II
Photo courtesy of Executive Office of the Governor
Written by Tanya Terry
The Courier recently spoke to Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, II about the way the bipartisan budget for Fiscal Year 2023 will affect residents in Flint and Genesee County.
Gilchrist confirmed the budget provides for a school aid budget that makes the highest per-pupil state investment in Michigan history—without raising taxes. He also said more money is available than ever to and invested for the Flint Community Schools, as well as schools throughout Genesee County.
“These funds are invested more equitably than they’ve ever been,” he added.
Research showed that more funding was needed for students living in communities fighting persistent poverty.
According the Gilchrist, these students and others will have more resources to help position them for success, including everything from programming and exposure opportunities to deeper investments for students with special extraordinary needs, and more.
“We made the investment in school building infrastructure to make sure that those buildings that need to have building or grounds improvements have resources to do that from the state, offering those resources received from the federal government over the last couple of years,” Gilchrist added.
He said there are also a lot of resources to recruit and train educational professionals in order to better deal with the fact more are needed. He explained there are a number of incentives and scholarship programs being offered for those who choose to enter the field of education. Gilchrist said he believes this will definitely benefit communities such as Genesee County.
The budget also focuses on growing Michigan’s economy and investing in Michigan’s workforce. This includes budgeting $110 million for workforce development, $55 million apiece for the established Reconnect and Going Pro programs. Programs such as Reconnect and Going Pro are offered through MichiganWorks! The Reconnect program, for example, provides a tuition-free pathway to community college or professional training and certification for all adults in Michigan, including all adults in Genese County. MichiganWorks! also provides Barrier Removal and Employment Supports to remove barriers to employment for low-income, poor and working poor residents. The budget offers $10 million for these services. As a result of more money being put into these programs, more students are expected to be served. Money was also added into the budget this year for wrap-around services such as childcare, education or books for students in programs like ReConnect.
The budget includes an increase in revenue sharing, the way the state provides resources for local communities and counties to fund public safety efforts.
“That’s money that can be used to hire emergency medical staff, fire fighters and law enforcement professionals in support of city services,” Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist shared the budget does include a 5% increase for U of M -Flint and a $500,000 investment for the Flint Children’s Museum, both of which he feels are very important.
He also shared Jobs Court has been funded in the budget. Under Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Jobs Court pilot and plan, Michiganders accused of low-level, nonviolent offenses would have an opportunity for placement in good-paying jobs to both reduce recidivism and help businesses keep staff levels up.
