Legislators tout benefits for Detroiters in 2023-24 budget
LANSING, Mich., June 28, 2023 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed the state’s fiscal 2023-24 budget today. This is the first budget in 40 years crafted by a Democratic trifecta — it reflects Michigan’s values by making the largest investment in education in the state’s history, including free breakfast and lunch for every student and affordable pre-K, as well as substantial investments in workforce recruitment and retention, water infrastructure, and public safety. The legislators worked in a bipartisan fashion to deliver a timely, responsible budget that ensures federal funding stays in Michigan instead of being sent back to Washington, D.C.
Speaker of the House Joe Tate (D-Detroit) addresses the chamber before the passage of the 2023-24 state budget on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at the state Capitol in Lansing.
“As a former law enforcement officer, I am always thinking about the safety of our communities. More than $3 million of Detroit’s additional revenue sharing will go directly toward improving public safety,” said state Rep. Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit), chair of the Detroit Caucus. “I’m proud to say that not only does this budget invest in training and other support for first responders, as well as addressing the gun case backlog, we secured a $3 million grant to the Police Athletic League and restored health care for retired Detroit firefighters.”
“Affordable housing is an acute problem in many areas of the state, not least of all Detroit. With this budget, we are tackling this issue in a number of ways,” said state Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit), vice chair of the Detroit Caucus. “From broad funding increases for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to $2.5 million to create a right to counsel for Detroiters in eviction proceedings, keeping folks in their homes means better communities.”
“A budget is a statement of our priorities. As Detroit legislators, we know that what benefits our city will benefit all of Michigan,” said Speaker of the House Joe Tate (D-Detroit). “The investments we made today — including more than $10 million in added revenue sharing and more than $20 million for Belle Isle — will improve lives, create meaningful opportunities, and make the city we love a better place to live, work, learn and raise a family.”
“The surest path to success is finding and keeping a good-paying job. This budget funds Global Detroit’s talent acquisition and retention programs on top of statewide workforce development investments,” said state Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit), secretary of the Detroit Caucus. “When families earn more money, they can afford to shop and eat at local businesses, creating positive ripple effects throughout the community.”
“As a champion for better educational outcomes, especially for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, I could not be more excited about this budget,” said state Rep. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit), treasurer of the Detroit Caucus. “Almost $95 million will go toward implementing the Detroit literacy settlement, in addition to improvements at Coleman Young Elementary and the Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies School. Combined with an increase of funding for schools across the board and more dedicated funds for at-risk kids, we are setting up the next generation for success.”