LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Whitmer made a stop in Jackson on Thursday--pushing to get a budget passed.
The governor visited a Jackson High School government class to meet with students. She said it's ridiculous to think we're into the school year and districts still don't know how much money they'll be getting.
"The legislature took a couple of months off for a summer break without getting the budget done. This is the first time in nine years that's happened and now schools like Jackson are two months into their fiscal year and they don't even know what they're working with and that's why I'm committed to staying at the table until we have a budget that fixes the roads and protects schools," Gov. Whitmer said.
Fox 47 asked Jackson's superintendent what kind of problems not have a budget has caused. He said he's already delayed filling some positions and he's preparing to break open the districts piggy bank.
"Our budget right now is scheduled to dip into the fund balance about eight hundred thousand dollars. So we are very much looking forward to a budget from Lansing offering new revenue," Jeff Beal, Jackson Public Schools superintendent said.
Republicans are blaming the budget hold-up on the governor's proposed 45-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase.
They say it's not happening. The governor said she wants to hear a serious road-funding proposal from them if they don't like the tax hike.
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