Today, at Heritage Hall within the State Capitol, Governor Gretchen Whitmer presented her executive budget recommendations for the upcoming 2024 – 2025 Fiscal Year. Joined by Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, State Budget Director Jen Flood, and Deputy State Budget Director Kyle Guerrant, she outlined a number of ongoing and new initiatives. The budget recommendations total $80.7 billion, which includes a General Fund total of $14.3 billion and a School Aid Fund total of $18.9 billion. This budget reflects a return to normal following a few budget cycles that included significant additional federal funding dollars due to the pandemic.
Specifics within the budget recommendations include:
K-12 Education:
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- A 2.5% increase to base per-pupil funding, bringing the total to $9,849 per pupil
- $200 million for free school meals for all public-school students
- $300 million for student mental health and safety
- $650 million to expand free Pre-K to all kids
Higher Education and Workforce Development:
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- A 2.5% increase to university and community college operations
- $330 million to provide a free associate degree or skilled certificate to all high school graduates through a community college
- $54.7 million ongoing and $20 million one-time funding for Going Pro
- $62 million for the Michigan Reconnect Program
Public Safety:
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- $5 million to train, recruit, and retain local law enforcement
- $11.9 million to implement recommendations from the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform
Infrastructure:
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- $397.6 million for roads and bridges
- $17.1 million for state park maintenance and access
- $25 million to install EV and hydrogen charging stations
Housing:
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- $50 million for the Housing and Community Development Fund
- Builds on MSHDA loan dollars and bond money to invest $1.4 billion to build or rehabilitate almost 10,000 homes statewide
Economic Development:
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- $3 million for small businesses to enroll their workers in a state managed retirement plan
- $60 million for the Michigan Innovation Fund to support scalable startups
- $500 million for the Strategic Outreach Attraction Reserve
- $100 million research and development tax credit
These recommendations are another step in the process of putting together a state budget. The House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees will meet during the upcoming months to work on and finalize the budgets within their purview with a target completion date of June 30.
For more information and analysis, please visit www.michigan.gov/budget.
Please be on the lookout for an invitation to the MLC client exclusive Budget Briefing on Thursday, February 22 where more details from the administration and key legislators will be provided.
