Letters: How critical is school funding?

Raise taxes for schools

Other states need to follow the one thing our state has gotten correct: Support public education and teachers' salaries and benefits. It is shameful what some communities in our country pay their educators. The challenges that our educators are facing today are enormous, and it certainty doesn't help the morale for Nolan Finley to use his column to spout off about the benefits that were awarded over many years of negotiations. We need to raise taxes for now and restructure the tax system. I want to pay for our children's education, our community workers and take care of those who do not have the financial comforts you and I enjoy.

Carolyn H. Henderson, Lansing

End state school funding

With all the bemoaning of lost funds by education advocates, now is the time to consider the gradual ending of state funding for schools. Taxpayer-funded schools are financially inefficient and scholastically deficient. College subsidies are an even worse idea, especially considering how many graduates leave the state with their Michigan taxpayer-aided degree. It is a fantasy to think that grants or scholarships reduce costs for students; they merely increase income for schools. Let's get back to taxpayers funding only core government responsibilities. All other items on peoples' wish lists can be financed through voluntary contributions to appropriate organizations.

Carman Conforti, Chesterfield Twp.

Don't cut scholarships

We promised our high schoolers who did well in school that they would receive a scholarship for attending a Michigan university. Now, Senate Republicans want to eliminate the Michigan Promise Scholarship that 96,000 families are depending on next year. With the decline in Michigan manufacturing jobs, higher education is more important than ever.

Jeff Kielinen, Lake Orion

Taxes make matters worse

Gov. Jennifer Granholm claims she was forced to veto the spending of school aid for 39 school districts to balance the state's books. Senate Republican Leader Mike Bishop correctly charged that "the veto was intended to blackmail lawmakers into voting for a tax hike." The more she wants to tax and fails to consider other alternatives, the worse it gets for Michigan and its dwindling pool of taxpayers. Michigan's high tax and regulatory climate is a major reason why new businesses do not consider locating here.

Tom DeLucia, Trenton