UM, MSU avoid steep cuts in state budget, but get new spending cap

The University of Michigan and Michigan State University were spared from the steep cuts Michigan House Republicans initially sought after the state Legislature approved early Friday morning the $2.3 billion higher education budget.

The total budget is about $12.6 million more than last year's, a 0.5% increase, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency. The higher education budget more closely aligns with the priorities of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Democratic-led Senate on funding.