“Budget for the People” invests in Michigan kids, workers and communities 

 

October 1 marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for the state of Michigan — the day when the historic state budget the Michigan Senate passed on June 28 takes effect.

Totaling $81.7 billion, the budget is full of transformative, innovative and equitable investments that will improve the lives of Michiganders. These investments put Michigan residents first and delivers on real issues — uplifting families struggling to make ends meet by expanding access to affordable housing and nutritious food; making investments to ensure workers receive fair pay and have access to job training programs; fixing roads, dams and bridges across the state; improving water quality; and so much more. 

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“Budgets are moral documents and what they include reflect the values of our state. Our budget is the product of conversations and meetings with constituents across our state from all walks of life,” said Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). “We have made historic increases in funding for schools, infrastructure, housing and workforce development. We have reinvested in communities and programs that have been overlooked for far too long while remaining fiscally responsible and implementing unprecedented transparency measures. This transformational budget prioritizes the needs and wants of the people of Michigan — and that’s always how it should be.”

The school budget, which was carefully crafted by legislators with hands-on experience in the classroom, also addresses various issues in education — such as literacy, teacher compensation, mental health, school infrastructure and transportation — through the lens of students, teachers, staff and their families.  

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“As a former teacher, I’m unbelievably proud of the Education Budget,” said Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Chair of the Senate Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. “For the first time in decades, we have a budget that properly invests in our students, teachers and schools. After listening to educators, parents and students in our communities, we crafted a budget that prioritizes our students who need the most support, incentives to keep educators in the classroom and programs that will help build the schools of the future. I’m excited to see how our schools implement this transformational investment in their districts.” 

Senators Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe), Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) spend time in their districts to celebrate investments secured for their communities in the 2024 state budget.

Following the passage of the budget, Senate Democrats took time this summer to return to their districts to meet with residents and discuss the investments the budget makes in their communities. Across the state, Michiganders shared how the 2024 state budget will positively transform their daily lives — helping to fund their children’s schools, fix the roads they drive on, improve the quality of the water they drink and keep their communities safe.

As the budget takes effect, Senate Democrats look forward to seeing the true impact these meaningful investments will have in making Michigan a place where everyone — regardless of their background or lived experience — can find opportunity. 

Read more from the Michigan Senate Democrats at SenateDems.com/press.