Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, has just approved a billion state spending plan for the Financial Year 2025. It’s a $82.5 billion spending plan with an emphasis on public safety financial stability and improvements to public infrastructure.
Whitmer appeared to be proud of the budget when it was announced.
“Balanced, Fiscally Responsible Budget”
According to Whitmer, “What we have done here is create another balanced, fiscally responsible budget that doesn’t raise taxes by a dime, but yet makes another deposit into our rainy day fund which claims a new all time high of $2.2 billion.”
Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit, was additionally excited about the state’s money infusion. Detroit is getting some serious assistance – with $100 million for affordable housing and more than $500 million for supplanting lead water lines.
Investing in Public Safety
Duggan stated, “In previous times, Lansing waited until there was a crisis on the lead pipes to act. But we are right now replacing 200 houses a week with new pipes.”
This budget prioritizes public safety by establishing the Public Safety Trust Fund, which will receive $75 million to support community violence intervention and law enforcement.
Community Heroes
Local area violence groups have previously been out in large numbers in Detroit’s Warrendale, and their effect has been noticeable. Duggan claims that these community heroes reduced the number of shootings by 70%.
Duggan said, “The folks who are in the neighborhoods who are preventing the shots in the first place, they were funded with federal money that was going to expire in July.”
“This Budget Gets it Done”
Other cities in Michigan are expected to follow suit, including Detroit, which is adding 100 new police officers.
Whitmer explained that the state’s safety is the primary focus of the budget, which includes new laws to reduce gun violence and crack down on domestic abusers. “We want to make sure that every Michigander, no matter where you live, is safe as you go to work, drop your kids off at school, run errands. This budget gets it done,” she said.
Michigan Employment and Economy
The spending plan isn’t just about public safety – it’s likewise about employment and Michigan’s economy. There’s $45.5 million for labor force development, $500 million for the Strategic Outreach Attraction Reserve fund to draw in new businesses, and $60 million for an Innovation Fund to help new businesses.
In addition, there is funding to assist individuals in converting to jobs in clean energy and electric vehicles.
Fixing the “Damn Roads”
Maybe most controversial is Whitmer’s greenlighting of a significant $700 million for the last stage of her Remaking Michigan Plan, which will be centered around highways and bridges.
Michigan residents may recall Whitmer’s campaign for governor in 2018 and her pledge to “fix the damn roads.” Six years later, the progress has been slow at best.
Rebuilding Michigan Debt
Long-term debt from the Rebuilding Michigan program is already looming over Michigan, and with construction and material costs increasing alongside inflation, experts are concerned that this cash infusion to the program won’t extend far enough.
Federal Funds could potentially move development along, and the financial plan contains $4.2 billion for road and bridge projects, which incorporates nearly 2 billion dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Health and Energy
On the health front, new behavioral health clinics will receive $161.5 million, and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program will receive $18.1 million to close racial health gaps for mothers and babies.
Another controversial piece of the spending plan was a $150 million venture to reopen the Palisades Nuclear Facility.
Environmental Opposition
Whitmer is advocating for the reopening of the Palisades plant, following in the footsteps of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who paid for the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to remain operational.
While Whitmer says it will save 600 jobs and make sufficient energy to supply thousands of homes, environmental groups are opposed to the idea.
Conservative Criticism
Environmental groups say they would prefer Whitmer focus on drinking and wastewater issues, public transport, and household energy efficiency overhauls instead.
Conservatives likewise aren’t enthused by Whitmer’s new spending plan. They accused Democrats of focusing on “wasteful pet projects for politically favored communities.” The budget, according to some Republicans, does not do enough to fix roads or make schools safer.
Overlooking Issues
Others accuse Whitmer of overlooking major issues in Northern Michigan that need serious money to tackle.
Despite the fact that numerous neighborhood projects were subsidized, Whitmer rejected almost $9.2 million in requests, including $2.5 million for a religious lodging award and $3 million in rebates to gas stations to boost ethanol sales.
In support of her choices, Whitmer stated, “When we don’t negotiate things, I don’t think anyone should be surprised that they’re taken out of the budget”
