Dear Neighbors!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer, despite some very warm days, and looking forward to what is always a busy autumn in House District 48. As I begin to see the leaves turning from a vibrant green to a pale yellow, I am astounded by how quickly the summer has gone by.
Personally, I have found these past two months to be both fruitful and frustrating. Fruitful, because I have had lots of time in the district to listen to your concerns and attend events, including the farmers markets at the heart of so many of our communities. I have overloaded my basket each week with plump summer squash, bushels of corn and every possible size tomato. Check out my social media videos highlighting the many farmers markets in and around the district, including one of my new favorites, Raindance Farm Flowers, where you will find the loveliest dahlias, zinnias and snapdragons.
This summer, however, I have also been extremely frustrated. We were meant to be in Lansing negotiating the state budget, which is normally finalized and voted out by July 1, so our local schools have the summer to allocate funds for the coming year. Instead, House Republicans haven’t negotiated a complete budget with the Democratically controlled Senate and governor’s office, as of today’s date. This means our superintendents do not know how much money they have to invest in teachers, school safety, transportation or even meals for our most vulnerable students. And school starts again in our district on Aug. 18 and 25!
And so I wait… fighting each week to be back in the Capitol working for all of you to get this budget done. If the budget is not completed by Oct. 1, as is required by our state constitution, the Michigan government could shut down. For a more thorough explanation of why we unfortunately are at this point in Lansing with the state budget, please read on. I want to educate all of us — on both sides of the aisle — on how the budget process works… and why it is now not working.
BUDGET PROCESS
The typical state budget process requires collaboration between several different entities. First, the governor releases her proposed budget; this is non-binding but is meant to guide legislators as they craft a budget of their own. Then, throughout the spring, the majority parties in both the House and Senate develop budget bills of their own. Finally, conference committees composed of members from both chambers and the governor’s office meet to iron out the differences between those appropriations bills before approving a final version.
As is customary, in February the governor released her budget proposal, which included a 4.1% increase in per-pupil funding for schools, $75 million to support public safety and violence prevention initiatives, and funding to promote small business growth. You can check out more of the governors’ recommendations at the link below:
Governor’s Budget Recommendations
In May, the Senate passed their own budget that aligned with many of the governor’s priorities. However, in March and then June, the House Republicans passed their budgets. All House Democrats voted against their budget, not only because their school budget did not include 25% of public school funding, it also did not include 92% of the general state budget. The school funding changes, as proposed by the Republicans, will affect at-risk students and alter funding for school breakfast and lunch programs, mental health resources, nutrition programs and school-based health centers.
Based on the traditional process, I believe differences between the three budgets should have been resolved months ago. But there has not been significant progress made by leadership toward negotiating a compromise. Providing students with the resources they need to thrive, both in and out of school, is of great importance to me, and under no circumstances will I allow it to fall to the wayside.
As your state representative, please know that throughout this process I will continue to listen to and fight for the interests of the 48th District and will always work to ensure that your key priorities are addressed in any final appropriations package.
WATERLOO/PINCKNEY RECREATION AREA INVESTMENTS:The state plans to spend $1 million to acquire 160 acres of undeveloped land south of the Waterloo Recreation Area and 120 acres to add onto the Pinckney Recreation Area, both of which are in our district! I was proud to vote for House Bill 4392, the supplemental bill that appropriated that funding from the Natural Resources Trust Fund. The bill provides funding for 85 projects, including the two in our district, to acquire and enhance public lands for preservation and recreation for Michiganders. I’m excited that these additions to Waterloo and Pinckney will help preserve the great outdoors, as well as provide more space for community members to enjoy.
GRANT SECURED FOR U OF M STUDENT-RUN CLINIC
I am proud to have played a significant role in securing a $2,500 grant from the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) for the University of Michigan’s Student-Run Free Clinic (UMSRFC), as well as a matching contribution of $2,500 from HAP CareSource. As part of MAHP’s Tackling Health Care Disparities program, this funding will help support local community health care needs and serve Livingston County’s uninsured and under-insured residents. My office brought UMSRFC’s work to MAHP’s attention and helped connect the organization with resources to support their mission.
LOCAL LAKES, LOCAL VOICES:
Our “Local Lakes, Local Voices” town hall on July 28 was a huge success! Over 120 people turned out to the Portage Yacht Club in Pinckney to discuss a variety of topics related to our water resources and how best to protect them. I was happy to have special guest experts Melissa DeSimone, Executive Director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, Charlotte Jameson, Michigan Environmental Council’s Chief Policy Officer, and Jeffrey Pierce from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to provide knowledge and answer questions from attendees.
One topic discussed was fertilizers, which have a negative impact on wetlands through nutrient buildup that leads to toxic algal blooms. Particularly in areas like our district, with an abundance of environmentally-sensitive waterways, fertilizers should be avoided at all costs. In fact, in some cases it is prohibited by law; in the last few years, Hamburg Township implemented an ordinance banning fertilizer use within 50 feet of wetlands, lakes and streams.
Another hot topic was the recent letter from EGLE to the county that recommended the drawdown for Portage Lake to be moved to Oct. 1. Drawdowns — or the intentional lowering of the lake’s water level — are performed every year, primarily for the purpose of shoreline maintenance and habitat protection.
Many attendees expressed concern about the date change and some believed it was a mandate. It is not a mandate or a requirement. Most lakes across the state drawdown in mid-October. EGLE’s Water Resources Division is conducting studies into the effects of drawdowns on aquatic species and if an earlier more uniform drawdown schedule across lakes, would be better for these species. Because the drawdown timeline is written in the court order for Portage and Baseline lakes, the county would have to petition the court to amend the court order. So for the time being, the drawdown date is not changing.
Boating safety was also a key priority. We highlighted the importance of the state’s boating safety course, which is provided through in-person classrooms throughout the state, as well as online. Not only is this highly recommended for the safety of everyone on the water — it’s also required for those born on or after July 1, 1996, to operate a vessel. You can find more information here:
www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/boating/safety-certificate
For safety concerns on any lake in the state, please remember to get in touch with your local county sheriff’s office.
APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS
As part of the annual budget process, I submitted my request for enhancement grants to the House Appropriations Committee, petitioning for investments from the state budget to be made in Livingston County. These include funding for Freedom River, a non-profit that is creating a comprehensive outdoor recreation center for veterans to re-assimilate in Hamburg Township. The Freedom River Wellness Center plans to provide comprehensive wellness services for veterans and their families, placing an emphasis on holistic healing, suicide prevention and mental health support through evidence-based programs, peer mentorship and therapeutic activities in a nature-rich setting.
Additionally, I supported funding for the construction of a trail connecting Island Lake Recreation Area and Huron Meadows Metropark. This project will improve the trail network in Livingston County to better connect secondary trails, recreation areas and population centers with the state’s Great Lake-to-Lake Trail’s Route 1.
Our state budget is crucial to the everyday functions in our state, and due to federal cuts it is unclear what extra money will be available for these projects. Despite this, I am honored to have a voice in the process to fight for investments that will benefit my constituents. These spaces will offer healing, connection and opportunity for our veterans, their families and residents across the region and support projects that promote both mental and physical health.
RECENT EVENTS:
To see ALL the events I have attended, take a look at my Facebook page.
But here are some particularly special highlights:
I attended the Memorial Day Parade in Pinckney. The parade is always a wonderful, meaningful event with a celebratory parade and somber 21-gun salute afterward. This year, the added bonus was a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the new pavilion in the center of Pinckney thanks to the wonderful collaboration between the Putnam Township and Village of Pinckney electeds.
It was great to see everyone who joined me for coffee and conversation in the 48th District on May 19. We had a great turnout and thoughtful discussions on issues impacting our communities — from PFAS cleanup and polluter accountability to the impact of potential budget cuts on Medicaid and Michigan’s free Healthy School Meals program. Your input is crucial in shaping our legislative decisions, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear from you!
Another one of my favorite annual events is the Pinckney Food Truck Fridays. They are hosted on the third Friday of the month between June and August — making them the perfect summer lunch or dinner spot!
My team and I have been hitting the district, one door at a time, to connect directly with constituents, hear concerns and share how our office can help the community. Whether it’s helping veterans access benefits, supporting strong public schools or working to lower everyday costs, I am committed to delivering real results for the people of Washtenaw, Livingston and Jackson Counties.
Look for me out in your neighborhood, and don’t hesitate to say hello!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Conlin
State Representative
House District 48