[RECAP] Fiscal Year 2022 State Budget

Sep 23, 2021 | Email

Mallory McMorrow

September 23, 2021

BUDGET PASSED

This week, the Michigan Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. This includes the appropriation of General Fund dollars, as the legislature previously passed the budget for the FY 2022 School Aid Fund.

Here are some highlights of what the budget funded:

Department of Agriculture

  • $25 million for Western Lake Erin Basin (WLEB) Investment that allows for the implementation of agricultural best practices to reduce phosphorus levels in the WLEB
  • $3.18 million for Farm Innovation Grants

Office of the Attorney General

Department of Civil Rights

  • $250,000 for Discrimination and Outreach Grant that allows the MDCR to address activities motivated by discrimination and intimidation
  • $1.5 million for Museum Grants, which maintains individual grants of $500,000 for the Arab American, Charles H. Wright, and Holocaust Museums

Department of Corrections

  • $21.2 million for New Corrections Officers – a $7.3 million increase from the previous year

Department of Education

  • $1.4 billion for Childcare Program:
    • Income eligibility increased to 185% FPL (federal poverty level) the 160% ongoing. This is expected to make 105,000 more children eligible for the program
    • 30% childcare provider rate increase ($158 million)
  • $1.9 million to address the educator shortage
  • $100,000 one-time funding for Poet Laureate

Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

  • $15 million to the Emergency Drinking Water Fund
    • New emergency fund created under FY 21 budget to address drinking water emergencies
    • $14.3 million to High Water Infrastructure Grants
  • $20 million to Contaminated Sites Cleanups
  • $19 million total in Dam Safety Investments:
    • $13 million in grants for dam repairs or removal
    • $6 million for EGLE’s response to Dam emergencies
  • $14.4 million for PFAS and Emerging Contaminants

Department of Health and Human Services

  • $6.7 million for Sickle Cell Disease Initiative, which includes an expansion of sickle cell disease coverage for adults not eligible under Medicaid
  • $414.5 million to direct-care worker wages, which includes funding to maintain the $2/hour recent wage raise and increases to $2.35
  • Funds are for initiatives to reduce health disparities including community-based navigators, implementation of statewide screening and referral tools, and data sharing:
    • Raise the Age Policy Implementation ($29.1 million)
    • Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Demonstration (CCBHC)
    • Includes $26.5 million gross for 14 integrated behavioral and physical health clinics
    • Home Visiting Expansion ($7.4 million gross increase)
    • Expands home visiting program through Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, by 1,000 slots
    • Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund ($10 million total)
  • $500,000 for the Human Trafficking Survivors Pilot

Community Colleges

  • $3 million for Community College operations, which equated to a 1% one-time funding increase
  • $500,000 for Pregnant and Parenting Student Services

Higher Education

  • $15.2 million increase for an across-the-board 2% increase for the 15 public universities
  • $12.4 million for the Indian Tuition Waiver (ITW)
  • Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) – $2.5 million TANF increase
  • $500,000 for universities to create pregnant and parenting student services centers

Judiciary

Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Department of License and Regulatory Affairs

  • $1.5 million for the MI Saves Program
  • $2 million for the Urban Search & Rescue Grant

Department of Natural Resources

  • $6 million for the Kalamazoo River Watershed:
    • Authorizes funds for mitigation of damage caused by Paper Mill waste
  • $500,000 Mackinac State Park Grant

Department of Technology, Management and Budget

  • $17.5 million for IT Investment Fund
  • $5 million for the Green Revolving Fund
    • New financing mechanism to invest in state-owned facilities energy efficiency improvements
  • $20 million for Cyber Security
    • Funding supports the state’s response to advanced persistent cyber threats

Department of Transportation

  • Department funding increase of 2.5%, equaling $5.2 billion

Department of Treasury

  • Statutory Revenue Sharing: 2% increase for CVT (Cities, Villages, Townships) and Counties
  • $5 million for First Responder Training and Recruitment Grants
  • $16 million for Next Gen 911
  • $4.6 million for implementation of the Flow-Through Entity Tax
  • $3 million for the Michigan Infrastructure Council
  • $500 million for the Rainy Day Fund Deposit

Michigan State Legislature

  • $7.5 million for the MiLENA System Work Project

Michigan State Police

  • $4.5 million for the Professional Development and Training Initiative
    • Investment in a new office to implement new department training objectives
    • The office will fund trooper professional development and training for areas including de-escalation training, crisis intervention, diversity, civil unrest, defensive tactics, PTSD, etc.
  • $12.5 million for Trooper Schools
  • $3.8 million for Body Cameras

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency

  • Veteran Grants
    • Increases Veteran Services Organization and County Veteran Grants to equalize at $4.5 million each

IN-DISTRICT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to all the dollars from the larger statewide budget that will benefit each of our residents, I am proud to have secured more than $1 million in additional funding for specific projects throughout the 13th Senate district. Within this funding is:

  • $500,000 for the Innovation Hills Park expansion in Rochester Hills which will allow the city to build a bridge over the Clinton River to unlock 48 acres of green space, as well as appropriate pedestrian access and suitable wayfinding for the area.
  • $300,000 for an I-75 sound wall study between Adams Rd and 13 Mile. This was in response to increasing concerns from residents about loud noise along the newly rebuilt I-75 section. For almost two years our office has been working with the City of Troy and MDOT and hearing increasing concern from residents about loud noise along newly-rebuilt sections of I-75. As we continue to have broader conversations around how we plan new infrastructure projects to ensure people can get to where they want to go, we must be cognizant of their impact on nearby residents and their quality of life. The funding for this additional MDOT study to assess the sound impact of the highway and traffic will give residents and the City an appropriate up-to-date analysis, post-construction, of whether an additional sound wall, as requested, would meet current state and federal feasibility requirements
  • $80,000 for a crosswalk signal in Clawson at S. Main and 14 Mile. Tackling a state budget for a state of nearly 10 million residents is about funding our major priorities to ensure every resident has the best opportunity to thrive in Michigan. But it is also about the small details and essential projects that improve our residents’ daily quality of life. While a crosswalk signal may seem like a small investment, it is one important piece to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our residents as they walk around Downtown Clawson
  • $50,000 for the Royal Oak veterans memorial project. This has been a project 10 years in the making, and securing this funding brings us one step closer to a world-class memorial honoring the sacrifice and contributions of our WWII veterans. It will allow visitors to reflect on the impact their service and sacrifice has had on our community, state, and country. Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial will be in Memorial Park, located at the northeast corner of Thirteen Mile Road and Woodward in Royal Oak.