Claire RobertsonMichigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law the state’s budget for the fiscal year 2025. The $82.5 billion budget provides significant funding for infrastructure, housing and manufacturing projects.
“Today’s balanced budget prioritizes public safety, infrastructure, and Michigan workers without raising taxes by a dime,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Together, we will hire, train, and retain more first responders, keep fixing the damn roads, compete to bring manufacturing plants back home, put workers on paths to better-paying jobs, and build a heck of a lot more housing.”
“This ‘Make it in Michigan’ budget will reduce crime, lower costs for families, and fix our roads and bridges,” State Budget Director Jen Flood said. “The investments in this budget will benefit Michiganders for decades to come, create jobs and power economic development, and build on our record of fiscal responsibility.”
The spending planning allocates millions to infrastructure projects, including:
Water
- $509.4 million for lead service line replacement and water infrastructure improvements.
- $48.3 million for loans and grants to local governments for lead service line replacement projects.
Transportation
- $4.2 billion for road and bridge construction projects, including $1.7billion in federal highway aid from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Key upcoming projects include work on Interstate 94 near Detroit Metro Airport, I-696 from Southfield through Warren and a critical bridge project in Erie Township.
- $322.1 million of combined new and one-time funding to improve state and local roads, highways and bridges across the state.
- $24 million to support new technology and mobility projects, including drone infrastructure projects, e-bike incentives and an inductive charging pilot project.
Communication
- $25 million for lifecycle upgrades to the state’s safety communication system used by state and local emergency personnel.
Affordable housing
- $100 million to construct more affordable housing.
Economic development
- $500 million in the Strategic Outreach Attraction Reserve fund to attract new manufacturers and industries to Michigan.
- $150 million to support the reopening of the Palisades Nuclear Facility in Southwest Michigan. The Department of Energy has conditionally approved a $1.5 billion loan to help reopen Palisades.
Capital improvements
- $50 million in continued funding for the Revitalization and Placemaking program, including support for a new program to implement transformational public space development projects that will increase the population by creating high-density, high-amenity, walkable, vibrant neighborhoods and business ownership opportunities for locals.
- $15 million for capital improvements and infrastructure projects at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
The new budget also provides for K-12 funding and higher education scholarships, more public safety resources at the local level, and lowering household costs through tax credits and food benefit programs.
Photo by Phillip Hofmeister
