Greene opposes cuts to mental health and school safety funding in state budget

State Rep. Jaime Green, Republican Vice Chairman of the House Education Committee, voted today against the Democrats’ proposed state budget, which includes a 90% cut to mental health and school safety funding.

“School safety is a top priority for every parent who sends their children to our schools,” said Greene, a Richmond Republican. “Why would the governor and the Democratic majority cut this vital grant program?”

The Democrats’ new budget cuts school safety and mental health grants by more than $300 million, leaving just $26.5 million for schools to fund resource officers, mental health services and other vital programs that protect children.

“We should invest more, not less, in school resource officers,” Green said. “Parents send their children to school with the expectation that they will be safe. Cutting funding for school safety programs leaves schools less prepared.”

Democrats also eliminated funding for the School Safety and Mental Health Commission, which was established in the wake of the horrific shooting at Oxford High School to help schools identify best practices for addressing behavioral, physical and mental health needs.

“The elimination of the School Safety and Mental Health Committee is a setback in our efforts to protect students,” Green said. “We owe it to our children to continue to identify and implement the best safety practices.”

The new state budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 passed the House of Representatives on a two-party-line vote early this morning.

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