Michele Hoitenga

ALPENA — On Thursday night, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that leaders in the state House and state Senate had reached a budget deal that will likely stave off a state government shutdown.

Most financial details in the budget have yet to be released, and at this point many elected officials in the state House and Senate have yet to be briefed on what is in the proposed budget deal or even how much it is for.

If the budget is passed by both chambers of the legislature before Oct.1, it would end local worries about mass state layoffs, the stoppage of critical government services, and funding disbursements being delayed to those who rely on state funding.

State Senator Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton, said she is aware of some items included in the proposed budget, such as no state tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security for three years. She said outside of that, road funding, and a few other expenditures, she and her Republican colleagues in the state Senate know little about the proposal and what it all entails.

Hoitenga said right now, Democrat leadership in the state Senate has been tightlipped about the deal and she is unsure if there are enough votes to pass the state Senate because of how little senators know about the proposed budget’s contents. She said until she knows more of the ins and outs of the framework for the budget, she isn’t comfortable committing to supporting it.

“A budget framework was agreed upon and established last night, with details still being negotiated,” Hoitenga said on Friday. “I understand that new revenue sources have been accepted in exchange for cuts, aligning with Republicans’ goal of preventing an increase in the state budget. While I remain cautiously optimistic that we’ll have a finalized budget to review and vote on by Monday, that doesn’t guarantee my blanket support for it.”

In a press release on Thursday night, Whitmer announced the deal claiming if passed, the new budget would address school aid, long-term road funding, lower costs for Michigan residents, reduce waste, and increase government efficiency. She also praised Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, and Speaker of the House Matt Hall for their ability to hammer out a bipartisan deal.

“Today’s agreement in the legislature puts us on a path to lower costs, fix the damn roads, and pass a balanced, bipartisan budget by October 1,” Whitmer said in the press release. “I am grateful to Majority Leader Brinks, Speaker Hall, and legislators on both sides of the aisle for working hard to move this budget forward. In Michigan, we’ve proven again and again that we can work together to get things done by staying focused on the kitchen-table issues that make a real difference in people’s lives. Amid so much national economic uncertainty, I am proud that we are taking action to lower costs, cut taxes for seniors and working families, create jobs, fund schools, fix roads, keep people safe and healthy, and so much more.”

Hotenga said she expects a vote on the proposed budget before Wednesday’s deadline.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.