Today, the State Budget Office presented Governor Whitmer’s seventh budget to a joint hearing of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The budget, which totals $83.5 billion, focuses on six key areas: lowering costs, creating jobs, getting SMART on education, supporting seniors, protecting and defending Michiganders, and making government work better.
Specifics within the budget recommendations include:
K-12 Education:
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- A 4.1% increase in base per-pupil funding, which brings the total amount per student to at least $10,000
- $676.1 million to continue universal Pre-K
- $200 million to continue free school meals
- $125 million to expand career and technical education
- $23 million for additional literacy coaches
Higher Education:
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- A 4% increase in university and community college operations
- $50 million investment in the Postsecondary Scholarship Fund
- $15 million to continue the College Success Fund
- $10 million to help grow the population by retaining and attracting talent
Economy:
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- $100 million for business attraction and community revitalization
- $25 million to expand the employer assisted housing pilot program
- Funding to continue the Working Families Tax Credit, which provides an average of $3,500 in tax relief for 650,000 families
Infrastructure:
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- $4.9 billion in total road funding, including federal, state, and restricted funds
- $112.2 million to match federal dollars for highways
- $80 million to continue replacing lead service lines
- $44 million to expand state park access and provide free access to veterans
- $10 million to install additional electric vehicle charging stations
Public Safety:
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- $10.6 million to implement recommendations made by the Governor’s Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform
- $7.2 million for trial courts to continue joining the statewide court case management system
Government:
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- A 4% increase in revenue sharing to counties, cities, villages, and townships
- $75 million for a public safety trust fund to help local governments enhance public safety
- A $50 million deposit into the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, bringing the total to $2.3 billion
These recommendations are a step in the process of putting together a state budget before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. The House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees will meet during the upcoming months to work on and finalize the budgets within their purview.
For more information and analysis, please visit www.michigan.gov/budget.
