State finalizes fiscal year 2014 budgets

Last week, the governor signed the Education Omnibus (House Bill 4228) into law, cementing the Higher Education budget for Fiscal Year 2014, consisting of $1.4 billion – a 2.2 percent ($31,353,100) increase over the current year.

Under the distribution formula included in the budget, the University of Michigan–Dearborn will receive a state appropriation of $22,503,700 – a 1.2 percent ($266,400) increase over current year funding.

In addition to university operational funding, the School Aid budget included a $65 million increase for the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) grants. The GSRP grants, totaling $174,575,000, are awarded to centers throughout the state that provide preschool programs for four-year-old children who may be "at risk" of school failure.

Last year the Early Childhood Education Center, part of UM-Dearborn’s School of Education, received an $81,600 grant to provide 24 half-day slots for community children. With the increase in funding provided by the Legislature and the high quality education they provide, the ECEC has been allotted an additional 52 slots for the 2013–2014 school year, which will provide a grant of $275,000.

UM-Dearborn Operating Budget Update: The university’s Fiscal Year 2014 operating budget will be submitted to the University of Michigan Board of Regents for approval at its next public meeting on June 20. Details of the budget will be shared by the chancellor on Thursday, June 20.

Want to stay informed of and advocate on Federal, State and Local issues impacting the University of Michigan–Dearborn? To receive pertinent information on a timelier basis by email, please contact Mike Latvis, UM–Dearborn’s Government Relations Manager, at [email protected].