Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday proposed an $80.7 billion budget aimed at increasing education spending and fulfilling a promise to provide students with a free education from preschool to community college.
The second-term Democratic governor announced his budget at a joint meeting of the House and Senate appropriations committees. This comes on the heels of last month’s State of the State address, in which Whitmer talked about free community college for all high school graduates, free kindergarten for 4-year-olds, and the continuation of free breakfast and lunch programs for all students. We focused on our efforts.
“Today’s budget delivers on the vision I outlined weeks ago,” Whitmer told lawmakers. “It’s about lowering costs, improving education, and making it possible for everyone to make a living here in Michigan.”
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Whitmer asked for $63.5 million to expand free preschool to 4-year-olds and $30 million for a free community college program. The governor says continuing to provide free breakfast and lunch will cost $200 million this year.
In addition to prioritizing increased education funding, Whitmer also aims to increase funding to address ongoing road and bridge repairs, provide tax credits for family caregivers, and attract businesses to Michigan. He also proposed expanding subsidies.
Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivers the State of the Union address on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, in Lansing, Michigan. (AP Photo/Al Gordis, File)
Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt criticized Whitmer’s budget proposal as nothing more than a “public relations issue.” He said the government prioritized excessive tax breaks for businesses and neglected support for families.
“It’s unfair to force Michigan families struggling with soaring grocery and energy prices to pay billions in government benefits,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Aric Nesbitt said in a statement. ” he said.
Whitmer said the two priorities that guided this year’s budget were “reducing payroll costs and growing Michigan’s economy.” Her office says free breakfast and lunch for Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students saves families an average of $850 a year, and free community college saves families an average of $4,820. We estimate that it will be.
The $80.7 billion budget is a slight decrease from this year’s $82 billion budget. State Budget Director Jen Flood described the proposal as a “return to normalcy” after the state experienced a large surplus in coronavirus-era funding.
Lawmakers will spend the coming months working to pass their own budget, with a self-imposed deadline of July 1. Fiscal year 2025 begins on October 1st.
The Michigan Legislature worked to pass a historic wave of policy demands last year after Democrats won full control of state government for the first time in decades. But the state House will remain deadlocked 54-54 with no tiebreakers until at least April, when special elections will be held for the two open seats.
So far, there is no sign that Republicans will help pass Whitmer or other Democrats’ priorities.
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Republican House Minority Leader Matt Hall criticized Whitmer’s budget proposal, saying it is “out of touch with Michiganders” and does not provide “true value for our tax dollars.”
