The $81.7 billion state budget awaiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's signature includes funding for multiple local projects as legislators seek to use a record surplus for local infrastructure improvements.
Those local projects include $5 million for reconstruction of roads and sidewalks in Canton Township. Canton was also awarded another $2 million to fund a youth center in the township and $7 million for the fire station construction project.The budget also includes a $10 million grant to prepare a site on Five Mile Road for economic development, $100,000 for Northville Maybury park facilities upgrades; $200,000 for Kellogg Park in Plymouth upgrades and $50,000 for a Plymouth Police Department cruiser.
The City of Belleville is listed as the recipient of $10 million for repairs to the Denton Road bridge in the community. In addition, Van Buren Township will receive $1.8 million for expansion of the Iron Belle Trail which also runs through Sumpter and Van Buren townships.
The City of Westland is also listed in the budget as receiving a $7 million grant for fire station equipment and emergency response equipment.
While Whitmer is expected to sign the highest-ever state budget approved by the Legislature last week when Democrats - who hold a two-seat majority in the House and Senate - gained enough Republican support to approve the plan. The new budget, if signed as expected by Whitmer, will take effect Oct. 1, the start of the next fiscal year, although efforts are under way to adopt the spending “effective immediately.”
While several Republican legislators criticized the grants as “pork” benefiting small local community projects and downplayed the emphasis on educational spending, Democrats praised the allocations as a bipartisan effort which included several Republican sponsored projects. Democrats also defended the budget noting that for the first time the document included specific communities and projects for grants while previous budgets listed only a general area and an incomplete or missing description of the use of the funds.
Included in the budget is $24 billion in funding for Michigan schools in response to educational setbacks realized during the pandemic. All state districts will receive a 5 percent increase in per pupil funding, to $9,608 from $9,150, in addition to a $205 million increase across the state in funding for at risk students.
Democratic State Sen. Darrin Camilleri, who represents District 4, is a former teacher who was involved in the preparation of the education portion of the budget.
He called the education budget “truly historic” and said that Michigan is now “leading the nation when it comes to helping our at-risk students.”
A program to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students, regardless of income, is included in the budget as Michigan and other states attempt to ameliorate the lapsed federal benefit programs and address the strain to family budgets caused by food prices.
Michigan teachers could receive monthly payments toward student loans under a $250 million proposal in the budget as the state looks for ways to address educator shortages. Teachers in at risk districts could receive up to $450.
State Sen. Dayna Polehanki who represents Canton Township, and the City of Wayne was elated about the education funding.
“I am over-the-moon to report that in the budget we voted on this evening, I helped secure over $30,000,000 for Senate District 5. Yes, $30 million. It's a great day to be your state senator,” she posted on social media immediately following the vote.
State Rep. Kevin Coleman, D-Westland, was also pleased with the increase in school funding.
“This is the largest proposed increase in education funding in a generation, and it couldn't come at a more crucial time. We've failed our students over the last 10 years, forcing our schools to do more with less. They deserve the kind of bold proposals Gov. Whitmer has suggested to get our students back on the path to success - because when they succeed, so does Michigan. I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues to provide the resources necessary for our schools to excel.”
State Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) was also pleased with the spending plan which includes nearly $15 million for projects in his district.
“As a teacher-turned-legislator, and chair of the House Education Committee, I'm happy to see the largest investment in education in state history, and I'm proud that I got the chance to vote yes on it. This budget will not only provide affordable preschool for kids, it will ensure that no kids go hungry during the school day by providing free school breakfast and lunch for all students.”
