All articles tagged with #michigan budget
Michigan lawmakers approved an nearly $81 billion state budget ending a months-long stalemate, boosting road and education funding, continuing free school meals, and cutting vacant government jobs, while excluding funding for a controversial copper mine and certain culture war issues.
Michigan lawmakers are finalizing a $51.8 billion budget that includes funding for free school meals, nearly $2 billion for roads, and tax exemptions, with votes expected soon after a series of negotiations and approvals. The budget also features increased per-pupil funding, support for military and storm recovery, and transparency reforms for earmarks.
Michigan House Republicans proposed and approved a $54.6 billion budget that cuts spending across many state departments, eliminates thousands of jobs, bans diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and allocates over $3 billion to improve roads, amidst ongoing partisan disagreements with Democrats that threaten a government shutdown.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proposed an $80.7 billion budget focused on boosting K-12 school spending, expanding taxpayer-financed preschool and community college, and creating state subsidies to alleviate large-cost expenses. The budget includes increases in education funding, childcare, school meals, and tutoring, as well as boosts for environmental programs and economic development. However, Republicans have criticized the budget plan, citing concerns about approaching a structural deficit and the diversion of funds from teacher retirement to other education programs.