With the 2017 state budget expected to be wrapped up by the end of May, the League continues to push for a strong postsecondary education system that enables low-paid workers to increase their marketable skills while working and taking care of their families. The League supports financial aid for low-paid workers with families who are trying to acquire occupational skills and have been out of high school for more than 10 years, stronger tuition restraints for public universities coupled with additional funding, and increased investments in adult education (School Aid budget). Inadequate access to adult education negatively affects community colleges, because many students needing remediation will be required to take developmental education at the colleges rather than beginning their occupational training programs college-ready.
Versions of the 2017 Community Colleges and Higher Education budgets have already been passed separately by the House and Senate. At the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference on May 17th, lawmakers will get an update from state budget experts and economists on state revenues that will inform the final budget spending targets. The Legislature is looking to complete the 2017 budget and send it to the governor by the end of May. Differences between the House and Senate budgets will be negotiated in joint conference committees, which will begin meeting soon after the May 17th conference.
This report examines the differences in postsecondary education and training in the budgets that were approved by the House and Senate and the primary decisions that will need to be made before the budget is finalized.
Financial Aid
Tuition Incentive Program: The governor’s Higher Education budget recommended $2 million in new funding for the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP), which serves students from households that are eligible for Medicaid, bringing the total funding for the program to $50.5 million.
- Both the House and Senate agreed with the governor’s recommendation to add $2 million for the TIP.
The League supports the increase in funding for the TIP, as it is specifically targeted to students from low-income households.
Part-Time Independent Student Grant: Neither the Community Colleges budget nor the Higher Education budget proposed by the governor for 2017 included funding for the Part-Time Independent Student Grant, which serves individuals who have been out of high school for more than 10 years and/or are over 30 years of age. This grant had been included in the 2016 Community Colleges budget, but was cut from the final budget in conference committee. The failure to include funding for the grant in 2017 means that the upcoming school year will be the seventh year in a row that there is no state financial aid to help this population attend a community college or public university.
- Neither the House nor the Senate added funding for the Part-Time Independent Student Grant.
The League supports funding for the Part-Time Indepen dent Student Grant to help older students in either the Community Colleges or Higher Education budget.
Other Financial Aid Programs: There are two other grant programs in the Higher Education budget, both of which are means-tested based on the amount a family needs to meet tuition levels rather than on the family’s income. The Michigan Tuition Grant helps students attend private not-for-profit institutions and the Student Competitive Scholarship is based on both merit and need. The governor did not recommend increases for either of these grants.
- Senate: The Senate added $404,000 for the State Competitive Scholarship and $748,800 for the Michigan Tuition Grant.
- House: The House agreed with the governor’s recommendation to not add funding for the State Competitive Scholarship and adds $1,157,200 for the Michigan Tuition Grant.
The League supports keeping these two financial aid programs strong, as they are accessible to students from low-income families in addition to those from financially secure families.
Tuition Restraint
Tuition restraint is a limit on the amount a university may increase tuition and fees annually and still receive full funding from the state. The governor recommended increasing the cap from 3.2% to 4.8%, enabling universities to increase tuition and fees by a higher percentage than has been allowable in the past several years.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor’s recommendation to increase the cap from 3.2% to 4.8%, and added language that universities that exceed the cap will also not receive capital outlay funds (for school construction projects) in the 2018 or 2019 budget years.
- House: The House agreed with the governor’s recommendation to increase the cap from 3.2% to 4.8% and added “or $500, whichever is greater” to the bill language.
The League supports tuition restraint as an attempt to keep tuition from rising too quickly, but prefers that Michigan undertake other strategies to actually bring tuition down and reduce student debt. Because much of the cost burden of supporting public universities has been shifted from the state to students, reducing tuition can only be done if the state restores the university funding that has been cut over the past decade.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
