I was proud to recently support a Senate budget plan for Fiscal Year 2018 that continues to help improve our economy, make government more accountable and increase support for our schools — all while also paying down debt and enabling us to live within our means.

Under this budget, education remains a top priority, with every school seeing an increase in per-pupil funding. The budget would also help direct more resources into the classroom by paying down more than $1 billion in legacy costs.

This plan continues our focus on career and technical education and increases skilled training to help fill the jobs gap. It includes funds for new equipment and $10 million for the Going PRO program to help ensure all Michigan residents are given the tools they need to meet our growing skilled workforce needs.

As chairman of the Senate Corrections budget subcommittee, I saved $40 million beyond the governor’s budget recommendation, with the majority of the difference due to a decrease in funding that coincides with an expected reduction of 1,000 Michigan prisoners.

The bipartisan criminal justice reforms signed this year will result in better outcomes, increased public safety and reduced costs to taxpayers. This budget plan reinvests some savings into programs that will help further reduce recidivism and prison populations, such as supporting a pilot project for 400 inmates to complete a career-based online high school diploma and backing a criminal justice reinvestment pilot that funds evidence-based projects.

This budget outline also would increase staffing for Michigan’s veterans homes, hire 150 new state troopers and put more than $230 million in additional funding into fixing our roads.

We’ve accomplished much during the last six years, yet we must continue to ensure that our tax dollars are used effectively and efficiently. The Senate budget plan will enable us to continue to attract new jobs to Michigan, provide vital services and meet our most pressing challenges.

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents southwest Michigan.