Lansing Sun

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

According to a July 8 news release provided by the governor’s office, the budget will shore up necessities for veteran housing, city worker’s pensions, infrastructure, help municipalities hire first responders and fasten speed service lines.

The budget allows the Building Michigan Together Plan to grant money to renovate state facilities.

“Michigan has some of the nation's best citizen Soldiers and Airmen," said Jeffrey Frisby, executive director of the National Guard Association of Michigan. "We are thankful for the governor and the state legislatures’ work to include money to provide for the Armory. This $100 (million) will help our warriors have the best facilities to conduct home station training, while also investing into local communities across Michigan,” said Jeffrey Frisby in the release, executive director of the National Guard Association of Michigan. “As our local armories have aged, they no longer can house the true demographics of the force. The number of females serving in the National Guard has greatly increased over the last 100 years, but the armories were not constructed with the female warrior in mind.”

Frisby added that facilities would be renovated with female-based needs in order for the National Guard to better carry out its mission.  

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said 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,” said Whitmer. “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.”

The new budget will address issues impacting working-class families, but will not raise taxes, according to the release.

“The building on Fisher Street has been a home to Upper Peninsula veterans for 41 years, with the staff and volunteers making it a true home,” Brad Slagle, board of directors, Michigan Veterans Homes, said. “Now that tradition can be continued in a new building with a modern design that provides five-star care and with the same loving care.”