By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI –
The House panel that oversees the community colleges budget has approved a spending plan that would keep the schools safe from further budget cuts. The Senate version of the budget would cut funding for community colleges by three percent.
Democratic state Representative Fred Miller chairs the subcommittee that oversees the community colleges budget. He says ideally the state should be increasing funding for the schools.
"We realize that all the other costs are going up for community colleges and so this represents a cut," he says. "But I believe that we're going to fight for this extra money to make sure that we invest in our community colleges, which are economic engines throughout the state."
The subcommittee that oversees the budget for Michigan's universities is expected to approve its spending proposal next week. That plan will also likely keep universities safe from further cuts.