Northwest Wayne News

The bipartisan budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which aims to help working families in Michigan, honor those who served, and fund critical local projects, was recently passed. 

Through the budget, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) will release funds to improve housing for veterans, increase city workers’ pensions, invest in infrastructure, help municipalities hire first responders, and speed up the replacement of lead service lines, according to a press release from Whitmer’s office.

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said the state’s ability to earmark $750 million for municipal pensions would help keep employee morale high.

“These dollars will guarantee the availability of funds to pay retirees who have readily served our communities with pride and dignity,” he said. “In Flint and Genesee County, these funds will help to strengthen our region and empower communities across the great state of Michigan, and it is all due to our fearless leader — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.”

Whitmer said that state leaders were focused on rendering aid to working families and communities while not raising taxes.  

“Since day one, I have been focused on delivering on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to working families,” she said. “The budget makes critical investments in working families and communities to help them thrive. It will deliver more funds to local communities, helping them invest in police officers and firefighters, speeds up replacement of lead service lines, and reduces congestion at local rail crossings. 

“The budget also delivers on critical community projects, funding the construction of a new veterans’ home in Marquette, modernizing Michigan’s armories, and upgrading Selfridge Air Force Base in Macomb County. Finally, the budget keeps promises made to hardworking municipal employees, shoring up their pensions. This budget is proof of what’s possible when we put working families and communities first and stay focused on getting things done.”

The budget will provide a 5% ongoing and a 1% one-time increase in statutory revenue sharing to help municipalities hire and retain first responders, the press release noted.

“We applaud Gov. Whitmer and the legislature for their recognition in the state’s historic budget of the immense value and importance that Michigan’s townships and other communities have in the lives of every resident in our state,” Neil Sheridan, executive director of the Michigan Townships Association, said. “The increase in city, village, and township revenue sharing, along with investments in new grant opportunities for communities for lead line replacement, will help local governments to better provide quality of life and essential services to Michiganders today and in the future and continue to improve the places we all call home.”