Downriver Today

Working families were the driving force that led the bipartisan efforts to approve next year’s state fiscal budget.

According to a July 8 news release provided by the governor’s office, the budget will shore up necessities for veteran housing, city worker’s pensions, infrastructure and help municipalities hire first responders and fasten speed service lines.

Michigan Municipal League Board President and Sterling Heights city council member Barbara Ziarko said the budget was a “significant investment” in the state’s citizens. 

“With specific investments in revenue sharing, assistance for municipal pensions, and other programs that help local communities, this budget will bring needed relief, and improve capacity moving forward,” Ziarko said in a release from the governor's office. “This budget builds on the positive momentum of previous investments in our communities. There remains opportunity going forward to equitably invest those remaining resources to ensure Michigan is an attractive place for talent and supports thriving communities in ways that benefit everyone.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said that state leaders were focused on alleviating the issues that matter most to working families and communities while not raising taxes.  

“Since day one, I have been focused on delivering on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to working families,” Whitmer said. “The budget makes critical investments in working families and communities to help them thrive. It will deliver more funds to local communities, helping them invest in police officers and firefighters, speeds up replacement of lead service lines, and reduces congestion at local rail crossings. The budget also delivers on critical community projects, funding the construction of a new veteran’s home in Marquette, modernizing Michigan’s armories, and upgrading Selfridge Air Force Base in Macomb County. Finally, the budget keeps promises made to hardworking municipal employees, shoring up their pensions.”

The budget enhances the Building Michigan Together Plan by allowing it to grant money to renovate state facilities.

“Michigan has some of the nation's best citizen Soldiers and Airmen," said Jeffrey Frisby, executive director of the National Guard Association of Michigan. "We are thankful for the governor and the state legislatures’ work to include money to provide for the Armory. This $100 (million) will help our warriors have the best facilities to conduct home station training, while also investing into local communities across Michigan,” said Jeffrey Frisby, executive director of the National Guard Association of Michigan. “As our local armories have aged, they no longer can house the true demographics of the force. The number of females serving in the National Guard has greatly increased over the last 100 years, but the armories were not constructed with the female warrior in mind.”

Frisby added that facilities would be renovated with female-based needs in order for the National Guard to better carry out its mission.