Muskegon Sun

State Rep. Greg VanWoerkom today voted against the Democrats’ $82.5 billion spending plan, criticizing it for prioritizing pet projects over the critical needs of Michigan residents.

VanWoerkom said the plan relies on a tax increase that burdens families, seniors, and small businesses while raiding teachers’ retirement accounts by $670 million. He also noted that the budget reduces school safety funding and neglects local road repairs.

“The Michigan taxpayers who fund this budget are counting on essential services like infrastructure and public safety to be included in this spending plan,” VanWoerkom stated. “But unfortunately, this plan is instead riddled with pet projects that only benefit people in certain areas of the state. We need a more holistic, proactive approach to our spending plan. This one misses the mark.”

The new budget cuts school safety and mental health grant funding by more than $300 million, leaving just $26.5 million for resource officers, mental health services, and other critical programs in schools. Following the budget’s passage, the teacher’s union issued a public statement urging the Legislature to reconsider these cuts and provide supplemental funding for student mental health and safety efforts.

“There were deep cuts to categorical funding for school safety and student mental health — cuts that will need to be navigated at the local level to keep our schools safe learning spaces for all students and employees,” stated MEA President and CEO Chandra Madafferi.

While school safety faced significant reductions, projects such as a $7.5 million drone program, $3 million in incentives for e-bike purchases, and a $25 million program to build state-owned EV charging stations received funding. Additionally, a commission coordinating celebrations for the U.S. semiquincentennial two years from now was allocated $5 million.

The budget also includes hundreds of millions of dollars in last-minute additions for various projects: $17 million for zoos in Lansing and Metro Detroit, $2.5 million for professional baseball stadiums, $5 million for a Detroit theater, $18 million for public and private sports facilities, $1.9 million for a pool in Saginaw, and $300,000 to cover public Wi-Fi in downtown Detroit.

The new state budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 was passed through the House early this morning in two party-line votes.