Michigan Approves $81B Budget, $21.3B for Schools

Michigan lawmakers broke a months-long partisan stalemate and in the early hours Friday approved a nearly $81 billion state budget after temporarily extending funding to avert a shutdown. The package boosts roads by about $2 billion and raises school aid to roughly $21.29 billion, increasing per-pupil funding by $442 to a record $10,050 while preserving universal free school meals. It restores about $321 million for mental health and safety, moves roughly $5 billion in Medicaid provider-tax revenue into contingency funds, cuts vacant government positions, and excludes $50 million for a controversial Upper Peninsula mine and new hunting and fishing license fees. Lawmakers also narrowly approved a 24–25% marijuana tax hike expected to generate about $420 million. Budget bills passed by large margins on most measures and are headed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signature.