LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – On Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed a whopping $83.5 billion state budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

The breakdown.

Whitmer’s wish list includes a general fund total of $15.3 billion, a $21.2 billion school aid budget, and a $50 million deposit to the Budget Stabilization Fund. She said it will bring the rainy day fund balance to $2.3 billion by the end of fiscal year 2026. In addition, Whitmer wants a $50 million deposit into the rainy day fund for schools.

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Whitmer called her proposed budget “fiscally responsible” and “balanced.”

Republican pushback in the House.

Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton Township) spoke to Michigan News Source about Republican priorities for the budget. The Michigan Senate maintains its Democratic majority but the House flipped Republican on Jan. 1, leaving Whitmer without her party’s stronghold in both chambers.

“I don’t believe Michigan needs an $83 million budget,” Rep. Bollin told Michigan News Source. “We have seen this budget grow exponentially, and some of that can be attributed to COVID-19 dollars from D.C. But we cannot continue to budget with that mindset,” she said.

Priorities over preferences.

There’s talk that Gov. Whitmer wants more transparency and accountability when it comes to this budget, and it is a line Michiganders have heard before from her. Rep. Bollin said that’s not enough.

“I want to make sure there is fiscal sustainability in budget,” Rep. Bollin said. “It’s difficult to set a number on the budget. What we have to do is what is constitutionally required and determine what is a priority verses a preference,” she said.

“Rainy day” funds dwindled under Democrats.

One of the main concerns for Republicans are “rainy day” funds that appear forgotten in the governor’s budget proposal. “What is concerning is that this leaves only $11 million on balance sheet and $18 million in the school rainy day fund,” Rep. Bollin said. “We had $9 billion on balance sheet when the Democrats came into their trifecta two years ago.”

Republicans remain hopeful.

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Both the legislature and Gov. Whitmer will spend several months working back and forth before solidifying the budget. The fiscal year starts Oct. 1. Rep. Bollin said Republicans in the House are hopeful that both parties identify bipartisan priorities for Michiganders.

“Making a life that is more affordable for kids across Michigan, our kids’ education, keeping the streets safe, and having infrastructure investments that are sound,” Bollin said, referencing her preferred budget priorities.