Michigan Legislature Approves $75.2 Billion Budget After 24-Hour Session, Missing July 1 Deadline Again
Updated
Updated · Michigan Public · Jul 3
Michigan Legislature Approves $75.2 Billion Budget After 24-Hour Session, Missing July 1 Deadline Again
3 articles · Updated · Michigan Public · Jul 3
Summary
$75.2 billion in spending cleared Michigan’s divided Legislature Friday morning after nearly 24 straight hours of negotiations and voting, sending two budget bills to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for line-item review.
A roughly $1 billion shortfall forced lawmakers to craft a lean plan without tax increases or a draw on the rainy-day fund, relying instead on cuts, efficiencies and some nontraditional funding sources.
The school aid budget steers more money to districts with declining enrollment, low-income students, special-needs students and English-language learners, but again taps the School Aid Fund for higher education.
Republicans and Democrats both criticized the rushed overnight process, though leaders said bipartisan cooperation was necessary in split government to keep housing, healthcare and violence-interruption programs intact.
The late deal marks the second straight year lawmakers missed the July 1 deadline, leaving school districts to budget without firm state numbers and likely narrowing room for major new legislation this term.