Juvenile justice facilities to stay open next year

LANSING (AP) -- Michigan will continue housing juvenile offenders at Maxey Training School and two other state-run facilities for the coming year, but spending was cut by $2 million. The budget conference committee agreement reached Tuesday also requires the Department of Human Services to let private contractors bid on housing some youths rather than adding capacity if facilities become full. The $6.6 billion budget spends $133 million less than the current year. The final agreement still must be approved by the House and the Senate later this week. The compromise gives foster care parents $3 more a day for caring for children and sets aside $60 million to help low-income residents pay their heating bills this winter. A proposed summer youth jobs program for Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and Bay City was dropped. Published: Thu, May 31, 2012