This would be the second consecutive year the governor has made increases to higher education — with public universities receiving a 3 percent increase in funding last year. But detractors still are sour about the deep cuts this sector has experienced during Snyder’s time in office.

Instead of being quick to levy another attack on the governor for failing to adhere to education, critics should be happy about what two years of increased support suggests.

Snyder’s relationship to Michigan’s public education system has been a delicate one since he first took office.

In his first budget plan as governor, Snyder ­— in one of his more criticized and controversial decisions — made a drastic 15 percent cut in higher education funding for the 2012 fiscal year. This cut significantly changed how Michigan’s 15 public universities received funding and resulted in a $222 million to $1.2 billion loss.

Snyder’s first plan also enforced deep cuts to Michigan’s K-12 school system, which eventually forced some districts to close buildings, reduce staff benefits and share administrators. These decisions angered many Michiganians and brought the governor’s support of education into question.

Although hard feelings might linger, having consecutive years of increases to higher education funding should be seen as an optimistic change.

It is hard to argue education — at any level — should be anywhere but at the top of every state’s list of priorities, but finding funding, among other demands, is a balancing act rarely fully agreed upon.

Opponents of Snyder’s proposed funding say this amount seems small when similar amounts are being allocated to funding other initiatives, such as road repairs and harbor dredging.

Although finding the validity in these arguments is not difficult to do, is it possible to say these issues also aren’t key concerns our state should address?

Because of significant cuts made during his first year in office, it will be difficult to ever be satisfied with the increases Snyder makes in education funding. But this doesn’t mean this pattern isn’t an encouraging sign for the future.

As a Republican, Snyder has the chance to sway his fellow party members — who outweigh Democrats in the legislature — to support his proposed increase and reverse some of the damage his 15 percent cut originally inflicted.

If the governor is as serious about improving higher education as he claims he is, now is the time to prove it.

Gaining support from the critics he lost in 2011 always will be an uphill battle for Snyder, but taking the steps to make Michigan a better place doesn’t have to be.