Dear Friend,
Last week, the Michigan Legislature finalized the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and just as my previous emails have promised, I wanted to reach out and fill you in on what that means for you.
We were faced with unique challenges this year, including entering negotiations with over a billion-dollar shortfall because of reckless decisions at the federal level. Despite these obstacles, I’m proud of the work we’ve been able to accomplish for the people of Michigan with this budget. Working across the aisle, we’ve come up with a final agreement that delivers on what Michiganders need and deserve: relief from rising costs, economic opportunity, and peace of mind.
It has been a true honor to lead the Senate’s budget process for the fourth year in a row, each year delivering a budget that puts the people of Michigan front and center, without wavering on our values. This budget season resulted in another year of meaningful wins for children, families, and communities, including continuing investments in the free school meals program, creative solutions to tackle our housing and childcare crises, protections for vital benefits under attack by the federal government, and so much more. Read on to learn more about the game-changing investments we’ve secured on your behalf.
As always, if you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or if you need assistance of any sort, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me by sending an email to SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov or by calling (517) 373-6960.
In service,
Sarah Anthony
State Senator
District 21
From protecting vital services residents rely on and continuing investments in popular cost-cutting programs, to tackling our state’s pressing housing and childcare challenges, our final agreement is slated to make a real difference in the lives of Michigan families and communities — without raising taxes or fees. It is now on the governor’s desk awaiting to be signed into law.
Michiganders are feeling their budgets stretched razor-thin from high prices of everyday essentials like gas and groceries on top of the rising costs of rent, childcare, utilities, and everything in between. That’s why our number one priority in crafting this budget was to deliver meaningful relief to people around the state. We’re doing that by continuing to invest in popular cost-cutting programs, like:
- Free school meals, so that kids across Michigan don’t have to learn on an empty stomach, and parents can stretch their budget a bit further.
- Tax credits to put money back in pockets, helping seniors age with dignity and hardworking families make ends meet.
- Grants to help people repair their homes and access safe and affordable drinking water.
- Free PreK for all Michigan 4-year-olds and funds for before and after school programs, equipping our young learners with tools to help them succeed in and out of the classroom.
- Rx Kids, ensuring moms and babies across Michigan get the support they need during their most vulnerable time of life.
- The Michigan Achievement Scholarship, so more Michiganders can attend college or university in their community free of charge.
- Michigan Reconnect, helping Michiganders return to school and gain the skills they need to reenter the workforce and secure a high-paying, in-demand job. And, we’ve expanded the program so more residents can benefit, lowering the age of eligibility from 25 to 21.
- Plus: Wage protections for direct care workers, bonuses for educators, and resources to support small neighborhood businesses.
While reckless actions by D.C. politicians caused us to enter budget negotiations this year with over a billion-dollar shortfall, I was unwavering in my commitment to ensure Michiganders would not feel the brunt of these cruel and harmful decisions. I’m beyond proud that this budget protects vital government services that people depend on, like Medicaid and food assistance, without cutting benefits. One way we’re doing that is making strategic investments into the Michigan Depts. of Health and Human Services and Labor and Economic Opportunity to help residents navigate the new changes from Trump’s megabill and ensure their continuation of coverage.
We’ve long heard from families, providers, and employers alike: the state’s childcare system is simply not working. Our budget begins laying out the groundwork to solve this pressing issue by creating a brand–new Childcare Fund, which aims to deliver long overdue relief to childcare providers statewide. And we’ve ensured this funding remains ongoing, so that the stability offered to providers is not short-term, but sustainable. By securing the stability and relief that our tireless childcare providers deserve, we’re helping keep our parents in the workforce and strengthening our economy.
One of the first things that Senate Democrats did upon securing the Majority in 2023 was to dedicate funding to help veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families find a place to call home. We’re continuing that with another $50 million investment for the fourth year in a row.
And while the federal administration works to criminalize homelessness, we’ve stepped up to ensure our unhoused neighbors don’t bear the brunt of their cruelty, securing funding for a robust continuum of care that helps people gain stability and find permanent housing. Because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
This budget also invests in support for eviction prevention; home repairs and weatherization projects to keep energy bills down; and downpayment assistance for first-generation homebuyers.
Building on years of historic education funding, our 2027 budget once again delivers another record per-pupil funding for Michigan schools. And, for the first time in state history, we have changed the funding formula, ensuring that schools with students who need more help can actually get that help.
We’re also continuing to invest in efforts that make schools safer, support students’ mental health, and improve literacy rates. And as Michigan continues to face a gap between the number of certified teachers entering the profession and those leaving the classroom, we’ve secured bonuses for educators to help recruit and retain qualified teachers.
Investing in Mid-Michigan
Along with the statewide investments mentioned above, I was proud to secure significant investments to support projects and programs happening throughout our Mid-Michigan community, including funding for:
- Advance Peace, a Community Violence Intervention program in the City of Lansing and Ingham County, instrumental in building safe, strong communities
- Ingham County, to support Ingham County Housing Trust Fund, which helps bring affordable, sustainable housing to the area
- Delta Twp., to make needed infrastructure repairs at the Carrier Creek crossing along M-43 (Saginaw Highway), one of our region’s busiest highways
- Eaton County, to help offset costs for residents brought on — many unexpectedly — by the Bank Intercounty Drain project
- United Mentoring Program, for youth development and mentoring in our region
- City of Lansing, to maintain and support the heightened public safety and infrastructure needs caused by serving as the seat of state government
The 2027 State Budget Also Invests In:
- Public Safety: Community Violence Intervention grants, natural disaster emergency response, relief for prosecutor caseload, police academy scholarship funding, and continued revenue sharing to support local communities statewide.
- Infrastructure: New roads and bridges, dam safety, and record dollars for new transit and rail.
- Higher Education: In addition to scholarship programs, we secured resources to strengthen operations at universities and community colleges and to support students and long-overdue campus infrastructure projects.
- AND: Arts and culture programming, before and after school programming, and a uterine fibroids study.