ICYMI: Michigan’s Next Budget is on the Books
Lansing, MI – Last week, the Michigan Legislature agreed to a state budget that brings responsible spending, more transparency, and more accountability to Lansing. The final deal comes with big reforms, including many sought by the Republican-led House. The budget, despite being smaller than last year’s budget under a Democrat trifecta, also includes almost $2 billion in sustainable road funding and record levels of per-pupil education funding.
As a part of House Republicans’ push for shrinking state government, they made sure the deal included much-needed tax relief for Michiganders. The budget eliminates taxes on tips and social security income, helping families overcome the growing cost of living. Even with the included tax relief, Republicans managed to cut overall spending for the first time since Governor Rick Snyder’s administration.
The budget also includes long-term, supplemental funding to fix Michigan’s crumbling roads. While the House passed a comprehensive roads plan in March, the Michigan Senate refused to take up a roads plan. After weeks of negotiations, an agreement was finally reached that funds local roads for years to come.
State Representative Donni Steele highlighted how this budget’s funds go to the roads people drive on every day: “From the driveway to the highway, this plan invests in local roads and bridges, with real funding Michigan families can count on.
Additionally, after weeks of fear-mongering and dishonesty on the Republican school-aid budget, Senate Democrats agreed to increase per-pupil funding and allow much of the money to bypass lobbyists and the pork-barrel buffet. House Republicans also made it a priority to fully fund school safety and mental health, reversing the $321 million cut made by Democrats in their last budget. That money will help schools pay for targeted per-pupil safety, school resources officers, and mental health professionals.
State Representative and Chair of House Appropriations Committee Ann Bollin summed the new budget up by saying, “We said we were going to cut waste, fraud, and abuse, and we did.”
“This budget finally cuts some of the waste, fraud, and abuse in state government,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for the Michigan Forward Network. “After years of Democrat broken promises, Republicans in the House were able to deliver a budget that funds our schools, fixes our roads, and brings some accountability back to Lansing.”
