More than $1 billion in federal COVID relief funds will be used for school COVID test kits and additional state lab capacity, less than a month after schools ran dangerously low on supplies.
Michigan's spending
Posted inTalent & Education
How Gretchen Whitmer wants to spend $18.4 billion on Michigan schools
Schools are battling teacher shortages, mental health concerns and more. Gov. Whitmer said she wants to make “bold investments” in education with billions of additional dollars in state and federal funds. Republicans say they are eager to talk, but wary of the tab.
Posted inMichigan Government
Reality check: Whitmer’s budget is massive. But so are Michigan’s problems.
Gretchen Whitmer’s $74 billion budget would be by far the largest in state history. But problems with roads, schools, infrastructure and broadband have been years in the making and became worse in the pandemic.
Posted inMichigan Government
How Michigan will spend $1.2B in federal aid for pandemic relief, COVID tests
Michigan lawmakers end months of stalemates over federal resources and allocate money for schools, nursing homes, labs and more.
Posted inMichigan Government
How Michigan’s state budget process works: Important dates, taxes and hearings
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to unveil her proposed budget this week. But that’s far from the end of the process. Here’s what to look for.
Posted inTalent & Education
Whitmer: Tap Michigan’s budget surplus to boost K-12, pre-K, mental health
Under the governor’s budget proposal being announced Wednesday, Michigan students would reap huge benefits from billions of dollars in state surplus and federal COVID relief funds.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer: Cut taxes, boost schools. Michigan GOP agrees, but devil’s in details
Tax relief. Historic school funding increases. More money for mental health. Gov. Whitmer’s pledges in her fourth State of the State align with some Republican priorities. Can they find common ground?
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan’s water systems in line for $3.3 billion. Much more is needed.
The state Senate allocates more than Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed, but Michigan’s infrastructure has been underfunded for years.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
EPA leader: $1 billion for Great Lakes will clean contamination
Great Lakes Now’s Gary Wilson recently spoke with Debra Shore who shared thoughts on the Benton Harbor water crisis, her views on next steps to deal with Lake Erie’s long-standing algae bloom problems and the billion-dollar windfall the region will receive from the infrastructure bill.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan doled out $3.9 billion in improper unemployment payments, audit says
Michigan knew for months it was making costly mistakes, but continued them anyway — and most of the money won’t be recouped, the report found.