(The Center Square) – On Wednesday, a joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee will hear Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal year 2025-2026 budget recommendations.
Over the past week, the Democratic governor has laid out her funding priorities. These will include job creation, addressing price gouging and funding programs like free school lunches and universal Pre-K.
The fiscal year 2024-2025 budget was passed last July and totaled $82.5 billion, including a general fund total of $15 billion. The budget has been steadily increasing every year over the past few decades, with the largest growth happening since the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Michigan, the governor has the overall budget responsibility, but must then work with the state Senate and House to pass it.
Democrats held a trifecta when the last budget was passed, making it easier to push their priorities. Now, Republicans hold control of the state House and have already been introduced House Resolution 14, which they say will bring more transparency in earmarked spending.
“This kind of reckless spending is exactly why Michigan needs bold, conservative leadership to fix our budget,” said Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia, of some of Whitmer’s earmarked spending which caused controversy. “We’re putting an end to waste, abuse, and political favoritism – taxpayers will finally be put first.”
A statement from Michigan House Republicans also laid the groundwork for how they will be going in the budget process this year.
“House Republicans remain committed to restoring trust in the budgeting process and ensuring that Michigan’s families, not political insiders, come first,” it said.
Going into Wednesday’s meeting, Whitmer has been laying out her priorities:
- Continue the Working Families Tax Credit, as well as free school breakfasts and lunches.
- Expand free Pre-K to every four-year-old in Michigan.
- More investments into affordable childcare programs.
- Additional funding for free community college, technical programs, scholarships, and placement testing.
- Expand funding to affordable housing programs, including “the largest investment to build affordable housing in Michigan history”
- More water and energy assistance
- To “crack down on price gouging” and launch “a team in the Michigan Attorney General’s office that’s on watch for businesses that unnecessarily hike their prices on consumers”
- Expand funding to the MiABLE program
Elyse Apel is an apprentice reporter with The Center Square, covering Georgia and North Carolina. She is a 2024 graduate of Hillsdale College.
This article was originally published at www.thecentersquare.com
