The Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges voted on April 16 to pass a bill that would reduce funding for the University of Michigan and Michigan State University by up to 62% in the upcoming year.
In a press release, republican representative Sarah Lightner, a supporter of the cuts, said, “This is a responsible budget that protects essential services while respecting taxpayers.”
James Hargett, vice chancellor for business and finance at UM-Flint, said, “We’re talking to our government relations people… and making a case for higher education and why it continues to be important.”
There are 15 public colleges that are involved; the proposed cuts will not be distributed to other schools, with the lowest percent change being Wayne State at 0.1%, and the highest percent change for schools other than U-M and MSU being Lake Superior University at 1.1%. “The House (of Representatives) does not reappropriate that to anywhere else, they’re just reducing the higher education allocation,” Hargett said.
After passing the House subcommittee by a vote of 5 yeses, 2 noes, and no abstentions. It heads to the Michigan House of Representatives, where a final decision on the bill will take place on July 1.
