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GOP leaders still focused on teacher pensions after revenues revised

The Lansing capitol dome with a blue sky behind it and trees in front of it
Lester Graham
/
Michigan Radio
Battles over the next state budget are heating up.

Republican legislative leaders remain committed to closing the pension system to new teachers and instead giving them a 401(k) after getting mixed news about tax revenues.

The Senateand Housefiscal agencies both say school aid collections will be between $286 million and $364 million higher this fiscal year and next than was projected in January. But the general fund - Michigan's other main account - will have between $377 million and $492 million less than expected.

GOP lawmakers have left uncommitted hundreds of millions of dollars to potentially transition newly hired teachers away from a pension. Gov. Rick Snyder has reservations.

A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof said Tuesday the new numbers aren't a surprise and the Senate set aside money for retirement changes and to provide flexibility in budget talks.

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting.
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