The Michigan Legislature approved a budget plan for 2021, and Governor Whitmer is set to sign it in the coming days.
Shane Hernandez, Chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee, said, “This has been a difficult and challenging process – but I am proud we came together to build a fiscally conservative and responsible budget for the people of Michigan. This plan protects funding for students and local public services while also protecting taxpayers.”
The plan does not increase taxes or grow state government, and it keeps funding for schools and local governments at their 2020 levels, which lawmakers say will keep them stable.
Republican lawmakers are highlighting included funding for public safety training and support, investments in broadband initiatives to support jobs and economic development, and support to public health by way of a $20 million investment in personal protective equipment for skilled nursing facilities and funding to increase the safety of drinking water.
Democrats are promoting funding for the Michigan Reconnect program which will provide a tuition-free pathway for adults pursuing certificates or associate degrees, funding for mental -health counselors to assist children in schools, and items that support the health of families across the state. They are also excited about new funding for the Going Pro program which supports job training grants to businesses to support training for positions in high-demand skilled trades industries.
“When we started the budget process in early February, nobody had an idea of how challenging the coming months would be, no knowledge of the devastating impacts that COVID-19 would have, including the impact to our state budget,” said Gov. Whitmer. “But Michigan is strong, and by working collaboratively with our partners in the Legislature we now have a budget I will soon be signing, a budget that funds shared priorities that will move Michigan forward.”
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand.
