Budget helps protect residents’ rights, implement voters’ directives, invest in important technology and local communities
LANSING, Mich. (May 16, 2023) — Last week, Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) and the Michigan Senate passed its full state budget proposal, including the General Government budget bill (Senate Bill 189) that Sen. Cherry crafted as subcommittee chair. The General Government budget funds the departments of Attorney General, State, Civil Rights, Treasury, and Technology, Management and Budget.
“This budget provides a lot of support for our fellow Michiganders, from upholding Michiganders’ voting rights to funding the state treasury and departments that are essential to maintaining state services,” said Sen. Cherry. “Our proposed funding addresses critical needs, puts significant new resources in place to increase the safety of state residents, and strengthens the ability of our local governments to deliver the vital services that people need every day.”
The Attorney General budget makes a significant investment to increase consumer protection as well as prosecutorial capacity for local county prosecutors who are dealing with large dockets. For the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, there is a nearly 30% increase—probably the largest increase in this lifetime—with key investment in increasing the department’s capacity to respond to complaints of violations to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The budget for the Michigan Department of State includes funding to implement election proposals overwhelmingly approved by voters in November concerning financial disclosure and voter access, with the ability to cover additional costs.
Funding for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) invests in the state’s Information Technology Investment Fund for cities to recognize the increasingly critical role that information technology plays in the delivery of services to residents, businesses, and communities. The DTMB budget also includes cybersecurity investments and funding to help transition Michigan’s fleet to EV. The Department of Treasury budget includes a 10% increase in revenue sharing to local governments to help provide vital services to our residents.
The full Senate’s passage of the General Government, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Michigan Department of Natural Resources budgets and other budget bills marks the culmination of months of work by Sen. Cherry and his colleagues, and a turning point in the budget process. The proposed budgets will continue to be negotiated with the House and governor’s office to reach final funding decisions.
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