Vagnozzi Praises Bipartisan Solution to School Funding
Farmington schools survive proposed cuts

FARMINGTON – State Representative Aldo Vagnozzi (D-Farmington/Farmington Hills) commended the efforts of both Democrats and Republicans this week in solving the state’s budget crisis without cutting certain subsidies to Farmington schools. Instead, legislators were able to come together and shift money around to protect 20j funding.

“Select school districts shouldn’t have to carry the burden of financing the entire state,” Vagnozzi said. “Cutting funding to the wealthier school districts wasn’t a fair or practical way to handle our budget shortfall.”

Last week, Governor Jennifer Granholm and the bipartisan legislative leadership announced they had agreed to a $6.6 million cut in these funds from those districts receiving more than $9,000 per pupil from the state. Wednesday, Granholm and lawmakers instead agreed to a compromise which would pull funding from the sale of state lands and other sources.

Vagnozzi also praised Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Robert Maxfield; L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive; and the many residents of the district and school district staffers who urged a more sensible solution.

“Robert really stepped up and took a leadership role in working with the Oakland School District and that made a huge difference,” Vagnozzi added.