Kalamazoo Times

The fiscal year budget for 2023 has been approved by state leaders who utilized a bipartisan partnership to help working-class families.

The budget will shore up necessities for veterans’ housing, city workers’ pensions and infrastructure; a recent press release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said. It will also provide a 5% ongoing and one-time 1% enhancement in municipal revenue sharing to help municipalities keep first responders in their region. 

“We applaud Governor 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, Michigan Townships Association executive director, said in the release. “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.”

Whitmer noted that state leaders were focused on alleviating “kitchen-table issues” for 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,” Whitmer said in the release. “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 veteran’s 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.”

Barbara Ziarko, Michigan Municipal League Board president and Sterling Heights city councilmember, said the budget was a “significant investment” in the state’s citizens. 

“With specific investments in revenue sharing, assistance for municipal pensions, and other programs that help local communities, this budget will bring needed relief, and improve capacity moving forward,” Ziarko said in the release. “This budget builds on the positive momentum of previous investments in our communities. There remains opportunity going forward to equitably invest those remaining resources to ensure Michigan is an attractive place for talent and supports thriving communities in ways that benefit everyone.”