MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Schools are designed to grow the minds of our youth while their funds seem to shrink year after year. That could all be changing with Snyder’s proposed 2015 fiscal year budget.

Govenor Snyder's 52.1 billion dollar budget for 2015 was presented in February that focuses on education, roads and a refund for homeowners that make up to $60,000.

“We've had over $15 million in various cuts and it ranges from a reduction in overall number of teachers to changes in health care benefits," said Bob Clark, the Director of Finance for Okemos Public schools.

The recommended budget would increase the foundation allowance which is the amount of money schools receive per child.

"Well we are proud of Okemos schools and we appreciate what the governor has tried to do regarding and hope that things in Michigan continue to improve fiscally so we can see a little more money put back into the schools systems," said Clark.

The amount varies per school and schools like Okemos would be seeing an increase of about $83 per child if the budget is approved.

"It's an increase over last year, it's still much less than what the education funding was when he took office," Julie Brixie said, Meridian Township Treasurer.

For some areas, schools are one of the larger factors that draw people to that community

"Education is the future, it determines the quality of the future for communities and obviously families and society as a whole that you want the best possible education you can have in order to compete in the world," said Clark. "Just about any parent in Okemos or across the state would echo that sentiment."

The recommended budget is awaiting approval from the House and the Senate before it can be finalized.

Aside from money going towards schools, the budget has also recommended that an average of about 80 dollars will be given as a tax refund for homeowners that make up to 60,000 dollars, but that amount could be anywhere up to around 200 dollars.