LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan lawmakers approved the $82.5 billion state budget in the early morning hours on Thursday, slashing the school safety budget by $300 million.
What are Democrats saying about the budget?
Democrats in Michigan’s House and Senate celebrated the passage of FY 2025, calling it “historic” and “balanced.”
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“This budget represents our core Democratic values — keeping residents safe, creating equitable housing, and making life more affordable so families can flourish,” said Speaker of the House Joe Tate (D-Detroit). His counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said the budget “uplifts Michigan families.”
Brinks said, “By placing the hardworking people of our state at the forefront of our budget negotiations, we are building up a Michigan where everyone has an equitable opportunity to succeed.”
What’s in (or not in) the $23.4 billion school aid budget?
The $23.4 billion set aside for the school aid budget is not being applauded by everyone. Although it includes “free” (taxpayer funded) preschool and community college, it does not include an increase in per pupil funding. Michigan News Source reached out to the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators, which lobbies for K-12 administrators. We did not receive a comment by press time. However, earlier this week, the groups told the Associated Press the budget could “lead to layoffs” and that the funding would not “keep up with inflation, rising health care costs, and the ending of federal relief dollars.”
In addition, Democrats cut $300 million in safety school resources. Representative Donni Steele (R-Orion Township) explained why she voted against the budget.
“Democrats disregarded the historic struggles our kids are dealing with and decided to strip mental health services and school resource officers anyway,” Steele said. “The $300 million cut in school safety resources reflects a reduction in school safety funding or more than 90%. The budget also takes more than $670 million away from the Michigan public schools teachers’ retirement fund (MPSERS), which remains underfunded by more than $34 billion.”
Pet projects galore.
Other Republicans blasted “pet projects” of the Whitmer administration and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
“This budget funnels funds into projects that don’t address the real issues at hand,” said State Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton Township). “It funds political projects and social programs while neglecting crucial areas like infrastructure, public safety, and other essential government services.”
Bollin spelled out tens of millions of dollars in “pet projects” like a drone program, incentives for people who purchase e-bikes, and the construction of EV charging stations. Democrats earmarked $5 million for a commission to coordinate a celebration marking the United States semiquincentennial in 2026. Bollin also lamented “last minute pork projects.”
She added, “[These include] $17 million for zoos in Lansing and Metro Detroit, $2.5 million for professional baseball stadiums, $5 million for a theater in Detroit, $18 million for various public and private sports facilities, $1.9 million for a pool in Saginaw, and $300,000 to cover public Wi-Fi in downtown Detroit.”
Student safety sidestepped in favor of illegal immigrants.
The Labor and Economic Opportunity budget includes $1 million for illegal immigrants to hire taxpayer-funded attorneys. Representatives Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) and John Roth (R-Interlochen) pushed back against that and the undesignated amount set aside for the Office of Global Michigan. Rep. Roth went as far to say Northern Michigan got “screwed” in last year’s budget and “drilled” this time around.
“Illegal immigrants aren’t supposed to be here, yet this budget forces taxpayers to foot the bill for legal services for people who are actively breaking our laws,” Roth said. “I came to Lansing to make things better, and that won’t happen until my community and the rest of rural Michigan get the funding they deserve.”
How will this impact the election?
Democrats have historically received blind support from teachers’ unions and the education sector. The Michigan Education Association (MEA), the union that represents most of the state’s teachers, typically endorses Democrats. Michigan News Source reached out to the MEA to ask if this would impact who they endorse in this fall’s elections. They did not respond by press time.
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