State Budget Agreement Reached

There will be no repeat of last year’s contentious state budget battle.

Wednesday, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders announced that they had agreed on a financial plan for the next fiscal year.

The $62 billion dollar outline was quickly approved by both the House and the Senate. Whitmer has committed to signing it before the new fiscal year begins October 1st.

The plan includes no tax increases, and relies on federal money to maintain spending at last year’s level. K-12 schools will see a bit of an increase, with the base per-pupil allowance augmented by a one-time $65 per student bonus. The Pure Michigan tourism campaign will be reinstated at a modest level. 

State Representative Greg Markkanen voted in favor, noting that the budget includes $4 million for additional Father’s Day Flood road repairs in Houghton and Baraga Counties, along with money to build better broadband service in rural areas.