LANSING, Mich. – With lawmakers racing toward a looming deadline to pass the state budget, educators and advocates are watching closely.
They are also lobbying hard for details that have not yet been made public.
A framework for a budget deal was announced late Thursday (Sept. 25) by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, and House Speaker Matt Hall, but the specifics of the proposal remain undisclosed.
That uncertainty has left school leaders and teachers’ unions on edge as they try to ensure education funding and key services are protected.
“We will not defund schools to fund the roads,” said Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, President of the Detroit Federation of Teachers.
Without an official budget breakdown, Wilson-Lumpkins said union members are preparing to press lawmakers through the final hours to safeguard students, staff, and school programs.
“What that says to us is that they are tampering with the budget, making cuts, and that is something that we are all going to have to deal with,” Wilson-Lumpkins added.
Lawmakers have acknowledged some concessions in the tentative framework, including a focus on road funding, modest revenue increases such as a wholesale tax on marijuana products, and changes to the corporate income tax.
However, many details remain unconfirmed, and critics argue that the lack of transparency is fueling concerns.
Representative Joseph Aragona, a Republican from Clinton Township, expressed optimism that a shutdown, should one occur, would be brief.
“I’m actually very optimistic we’re going to get this wrapped up in pretty short order,” said Aragona, suggesting any interruption to state services might last only hours or at most a day.
Aragona pointed to disputes between the House and Senate over revenue policy — specifically, whether to raise taxes and by how much — as one of the primary sticking points. Still, he indicated that progress toward a resolution was being made.
But not all lawmakers are satisfied.
Representative Carrie Rheingans of Ann Arbor has been publicly urging more transparency and said constituents still have many unanswered questions as the deadline approaches.
“For me to vote for this budget, I need to make sure that there is no anti‑transgender language in there that would harm our kids and families in Michigan,” said Rheingans. “I really want to make sure that there’s school meals still in the budget by the time I get to see it. I’m really concerned about drastic cuts to the attorney general’s office.”
The Detroit Federation of Teachers plans to be in Lansing when lawmakers reconvene, continuing to lobby and monitor developments.
Union leaders say they will push to preserve school meals, special education services, staffing levels, and other programs they consider essential for students.
Lawmakers have scheduled additional sessions for the week to finalize the budget.
Advocates, parents, and union representatives are expected to remain in Lansing until details are released and votes are cast.
With time running out, the final hours will likely determine which priorities survive and which may be trimmed to reach a deal.