By DAVID EGGERT

Associated Press

and CHRISTIE BLECK

Journal Staff Writer

LANSING — A divided state House narrowly voted Thursday to let charter schools receive revenue from voter-approved property tax hikes that now only goes to traditional public schools, a move that cleared the legislation’s path toward final enactment and reignited a long-standing fight between Republicans and Democrats over charters.

Voters in six intermediate, or countywide, school districts have approved the so-called enhancement millages — including in two of Michigan’s largest counties: Wayne and Kent. The taxes collected go to the counties’ traditional school districts on a per-student basis, on top of their state funding.

The bill, which the GOP-led Senate passed previously and may send to Gov. Rick Snyder as early as this week once changes are reviewed, would let publicly funded charter academies get a share of the extra local funding once a millage is renewed or a new one is approved. It won House approval 55-52, just enough for passage, as eight Republicans joined Democrats in opposition.

Republicans supporting the measure said all students deserve to be on equal footing, and it would aid 73,000 charter students in counties that have enhancement taxes.

“Students in traditional schools are not — and I repeat — not worth more than students in our public charter schools,” Rep. Daniela Garcia of Holland said in remarks before the vote.

Democrats accused the GOP of overriding voters’ wishes and “stealing” from traditional schools to help charters, many of which are managed by companies. Rep. Kristy Pagan of Wayne County’s Canton Township said her local district would lose $1.5 million annually under the legislation. Rep. Darrin Camilleri of Brownstown Township said the bill would shift $1.4 million from traditional schools in his district to charters in Wayne County.

“Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to line the pockets of corporate executives,” he said.

The legislation would have the biggest impact in the Detroit and Grand Rapids areas. Wayne County districts now receiving about $376 per pupil would get $287 once charters are added, according to the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency. In Kent County, a $212 per-student grant would drop to $183.

The House Fiscal Agency said decreased funding for traditional schools would vary depending on the number of charter students in a county and factors such as home values. The special taxes in Kalamazoo, Kent, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon and Wayne counties are due to expire between this year and 2026 unless they are renewed.

State Rep. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette, issued this statement Friday:

“The majority of representatives put special interests over children by giving profit-driven charter schools the right to benefit from regional enhancement property taxes levied at the intermediate school district level.

“When education management organizations that run charter schools aren’t held to the same transparency and reporting standards that our public schools are, the taxpayers lose. With our public schools, elections and public meetings give parents and communities oversight and leverage on how your taxes are being spent — they know how decisions are made and what the money is used for. With for-profit charter schools, you don’t.

“This bill passed the day after a new education report has come out, revealing our schools are more dramatically underfunded than previously thought — almost $2,000 per pupil. We need to get to work solving the real problems facing our students, educators and schools and stop these harmful giveaways of your tax dollars.

“I was proud to stand up to the corporations behind this legislation and vote to support our students — because students and communities lose when corporations skim off the top of their state and local funding.”

State Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, also issued a statement Friday: “I could not vote for Senate Bill 547 because it takes money away from local public school students and their education and gives it to for-profit charter schools and the education management organizations that run them. When local residents support tax millages, they expect that money to support their students.

“Instead, this bill would also use that money to support these for-profit charter schools and EMOs that do not operate with the same transparency that public schools do. The Legislature should not be interfering with local millage elections and saying where the money should go, and that is why I voted no on SB 574.”

The National Charter School Resource Center defines charter schools as independently managed, publicly funded schools operating under a charter, or a contract between the school and the state or jurisdiction, allowing for significant authority and flexibility.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.