Kalamazoo Times

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently unveiled her fourth executive budget recommendation, which totals $74.1 billion.

A portion of this proposed budget will increase spending on health services for Michigan residents, Yahoo News reported.

"Governor Whitmer wants to expand access to mental and physical health services," Whitmer's office said in a release. "Her budget proposal improves access to affordable, high-quality dental services to 3 million Michiganders, raises wages for nursing home workers, forgives loans for more mental health professionals, and invests in community organizations that provide direct aid to families."

The budget proposes to increase dental care accessibility for Michigan's 3 million eligible adults insured by Medicaid and Healthy Michigan through a program similar to Healthy Kids Dental, Yahoo News reported.

The proposal seeks to reduce residents' chances of developing long-term health issues, minimize life-threatening infections and alleviate chronic pain in order to help them succeed at work and school, Whitmer's office said.

The budget also suggests investing in the construction of a new state psychiatric facility with the goal of increasing inpatient capacity and service effectiveness, Yahoo News reported.

Additional budget proposals include increasing funding to local governments to assist them in hiring additional police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel, as well as establishing a recruitment and retention program to increase the number of first responders and troopers, Whitmer's office said.

"As a former prosecutor, public safety is a core issue for Governor Whitmer," Whitmer's office said. "She wants to fund local law enforcement and first responders so families can feel safe on the road, in their communities, and at home."

The budget also proposes funds to expand access to behavioral health treatment by increasing capacity and removing student loan debt for mental health professionals, increasing pay for nurses, funding food banks throughout the state, and improving Michigan's child welfare system, Whitmer's office said.