Whitmer signs legislation to provide $114M in debt relief to 5 Michigan school districts
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Monday that provides funding to alleviate school district debt and support Highland Park's drinking water settlement agreement.
At an event in Grand Rapids where Whitmer signed House Bill 4292 and Senate Bill 174, Democratic lawmakers joined the governor to celebrate.
"Across Michigan, we are lowering costs for families, fixing the damn roads, and ensuring every student can get a quality education," Whitmer said in a statement.
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, said in a statement the legislation Whitmer approved "is full of future-focused investments that maintain and modernize that which we hold dear."
The legislation includes more than $114 million in school district emergency loan debt relief for five school districts: Pontiac City School District, Benton Harbor Area Schools, Ypsilanti Community Schools, Muskegon Heights School District and Inkster Schools, as well as the former Willow Run Community Schools.
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It also provides $30 million for a settlement agreement with Highland Park and the Great Lakes Water Authority. The city, hit with a large water debt, had looked to the state to provide relief.
"Access to water is critical for every Michigan community. By sending state funding to fix Highland Park's water infrastructure, we are moving the whole GLWA system toward a stronger, more fiscally sustainable future. Highland Park residents have long called for a resolution to this issue and I am very proud to have been a part of making this happen," said state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, in a statement Monday.
The supplemental legislation also includes funding for special initiatives at public universities such as funding for Grand Valley State University to renovate and expand its tech center focused on enhancing students' digital skills and a new enterprise center at Northern Michigan University to house business education and programming. Leaders of both universities heralded the investments.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer signs bill providing debt relief to school districts
