What’s another $28 million?

Kyle Feldscher of Michigan Live reports:

Gov. Snyder to propose increases to higher education and community college budgets

LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder plans to ask the Michigan Legislature to approve a $28 million increase in state spending for university operations when he unveils his 2016 executive budget on Wednesday.

That two percent bump is the largest ongoing funding increase the governor will propose, according to his office. If approved by lawmakers, the higher education budget would reach $1.544 billion next year, with $1.4 billion coming from the state’s general fund.

“It’s one of the keys to the future,” said Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel. “So, the governor has made investing in this area a strong priority again.”

While an increase, the higher education budget still won’t reach funding levels last seen under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

In fiscal year 2011, the final budget of Granholm’s tenure, the higher education budget was $1.578 billion, about $34 million more than Snyder’s proposed budget for the coming year. Facing a projected budget deficit when he took office, Snyder’s first budget slashed government spending, including more than $200 million from higher education.