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.