Bailing out the struggling Detroit Public School district is taking center stage at the Capitol, but it will be at least another day before lawmakers possibly vote on a funding plan.
Most lawmakers agree the state must approve a multi-million dollar plan to save the district from bankruptcy, but they're having a hard time figuring out the right amount.
"We're trying to do the best we can for the kids and bankruptcy is the last option," said Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, (R-West Olive).
Meekhof spent Tuesday trying to whip up enough support for a set of bills that would send $617 million to DPS. That plan was approved by the House last week, but a new report by the Senate Fiscal Agency found the struggling district would need an additional $88 million to cover all its costs. That has some lawmakers concerned.
"We need to make sure that there's enough money to fix the situation, there's no use in doing it half measure," said Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge).
Jones says that cost is better than letting the district go bankrupt, which he believes would leave the state footing an even bigger bill.
"If we allow them to go bankrupt every child in the state will suffer," Jones explained. "It will be less money for every school. It will have to come out of the School Aid Fund. Billions of dollars if we let them go bankrupt."
Across the aisle democrats say the plan on the table doesn't cut it.
"This is bad for the kids that are in that system," said Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. (D-Lansing). "We need a long term permanent fix. This isn't it."
Hertel says going back to the drawing board is a better option because the House plan won't fix problems like dropping enrollment and paying long term costs.
"Once again the House is refusing to actually accept that. I'm frankly concerned that my colleagues over here in the Senate have Stockholm Syndrome," Hertel added.
An earlier plan that had bipartisan support in the Senate would have created a committee that would decide when and where new charter schools could open. House Republicans left it out of their bill, which is another reason there's not enough support to push it through the Senate. Hertel and other Senate lawmakers want the committee put back in.
"Unfortunately they caved to Dick DeVos and the charter school industry and that's who's running the show in Lansing," Hertel added. "It's not the right solution for kids. They're not concerned about kids, they're worried about their donors."
There may not be time to start over. The legislature and the school district are about to go on summer break, and the schools don't have enough money to survive until Fall.
The Senate is expected to pick up work on the bills on Wednesday. Stay with Fox 47 News for updates.
