EAST LANSING — The Michigan Education Association today praised House Democrats for approving a supplemental education budget that provides $125 million in additional funding for school safety and student mental health, as well as passing a bill to permanently repeal the state’s 3 percent tax on public school employees.
“On behalf of educators across the state, I applaud State Assemblyman Matt Kolesar and his Democratic colleagues for passing House Bill 5803 and providing permanent financial support to teachers and school support staff, which will allow great educators to continue working in our neighborhood schools,” said Chandra Madafferi, an Oakland County teacher and MEA president and CEO.
HB 5803 would eliminate a 3% retiree health insurance premium imposed by the Snyder administration more than a decade ago on more than 100,000 veteran teachers. The bill, which passed the Senate last week as Senate Bill 911, would cut school districts’ retiree payroll taxes by 5.75%, allowing more funds to be directed into classrooms.
“The changes made in this legislation will allow school districts to devote more resources directly to supporting students’ learning and giving them better opportunities to succeed,” Madafferi said. “We look forward to seeing this bill signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.”
In addition to HB 5803, the House also passed HB 5503, a school funding bill that will provide school districts with over $100 per student to invest in these important priorities, prioritizing student mental health and safety. Reps. Regina Weiss and Angela Wittwer promoted this important bill.
“We urge the state Senate to act swiftly to approve HB 5503 and help ensure our local schools have the resources they need to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for our students,” Madafferi said.
