Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s $23.4B education budget draws backlash from teachers’ unions over pensions, resources

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a $23.4 billion education budget Tuesday that’s been met with a surprising amount of disapproval from teachers’ unions. 

Traditionally reliable sources of support for Democratic policies, teachers’ unions and advocacy groups say Whitmer’s budget reduces contributions to their pension funds and slashes mental-health and safety resources.

Michigan Democrats passed their state budget with ease not even a month ago, giving Republican legislators fewer than 45 minutes to review the final budget before the vote.

After signing the education portion Tuesday, Whitmer tweeted, “This budget builds on the work we’ve done to invest in our students, build up our schools, and support our teachers.”

Some prominent members of the teachers’ union are not as thrilled about the budget, which reduces total contributions to teachers’ pension funds and earmarks millions to specific pet projects — doling out $17 million to zoos, for example, and $2 million to a boxing gym.

“This proposed budget would directly lead to layoffs throughout Michigan schools,” tweeted Robert McCann, the director of the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, before Whitmer signed it into law.

“It’s critical that lawmakers listen to the educators telling them to rethink this misguided plan.”

The K-12 Alliance calls itself “statewide leader in advocating for the policies and funding priorities that better support Michigan schools.”

The Michigan Education Association — the state’s largest public-sector union — had endorsed Whitmer’s budgets year after year.

This time, it was much more reluctant.

The MEA’s president praised Whitmer’s education budget just last year, saying, “Thanks to the hard work of Gov. Whitmer and leaders in the House and Senate, ​​our local schools will continue to make progress in attracting and retaining qualified educators who can help our students succeed.” 

This year, the union’s reaction was less enthusiastic as Whitmer slashed $200 million from school-safety and mental-health programs but left $133 million allotted for such initiatives.

“There is still a lot of work left to accomplish, especially when it comes to adequately funding school safety and student mental health,” MEA President Chandra Madafferi said after the budget passed the Legislature.

And Democrat-appointed state superintendent Michael Rice said, “A $300 million reduction in funding for children’s mental health services and school safety fails to recognize the physical and mental health needs of our students.”

Whatever qualms teachers’ groups may have with the new budget, it’s unlikely they’ll put their support behind the GOP any time soon, given Republicans’ efforts to limit unions’ influence in Michigan schools.

Ironically, after Whitmer signed the education budget into law Tuesday, Republicans took the unusual tack of acting buddy-buddy with teachers’ groups in the Great Lake State. 

“It puts teachers’ retirements at risk by raiding the pension fund, and it guts funding for school safety and mental health,” said GOP state Rep. Mike Harris.

“I voted against the budget because I’m focused on helping kids learn, supporting good teachers, and keeping students and staff safe,” the lawmaker concluded.