Rachel Richards

With Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rolling out her 2027 state budget recommendation this week, the critical needs of Michiganders in every county are top of mind for us here at the Michigan League for Public Policy. We have long said that a state budget is a moral document that reflects a state’s values, and here in Michigan, our people are what we value most. It is our hope that our state leaders share in that sentiment.

Unfortunately, right now Michiganders are being directly harmed by deep federal cuts to health care and food assistance as well as facing continued attacks on child care, education and other services. Our state also has a revenue problem that won’t be solved by moving funds around or proposing steep, reckless tax cuts. Simply put: we can’t do more with less and the people of Michigan can’t be prioritized in these challenging times if the funds are not there to help them meet their most pressing needs.

Against the harsh federal backdrop, our team here at the League still believes that state leaders can work together to craft a 2027 state budget that is meaningful for Michiganders and will help them to not just survive, but thrive. We know it won’t be easy, taking into consideration the financial strain put on the state’s budget by some federal lawmakers’ unconscionable choice to prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy over people’s basic needs, but state leaders must do what they can to improve the state’s revenue picture so they can help reduce harm caused by the federal megabill signed into law last year.

Topping our list of state budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year is maintaining strong Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policies, which are vital to ensuring families do not fall through the cracks. This means continuing to meet state matching requirements to maintain existing services, using practices that make it easier for people to verify their eligibility and work status, and creating robust outreach systems for these essential safety net programs.

We also want to see stronger, sustained investments in child care so it is more affordable and accessible to Michigan families, while also supporting the providers who make up the backbone of our child care system. According to our latest Kids Count data, the average monthly cost of full-time child care in Alpena, Alcona and Presque Isle counties in 2024 was $670, $714 and $641 — all significant increases from the monthly rates in 2018. Climbing child care costs have undoubtedly made it more difficult for families in these and other Michigan counties to make ends meet while forcing some parents and guardians out of the workforce. This must be addressed for the sake of our children, families, child care providers and economy.

As a part of our state budget priorities, we also want to see the state continue to put its support behind deeply impactful programs like Rx Kids and the Family Independence Program, while at the same time helping Michiganders afford essentials like safe housing and clean water.

And the League also continues to encourage the state to build upon its investments in education with an eye toward equity so that students are met where they are in their classrooms.

A focus on how the state can reduce health disparities across communities, prepare Michiganders for the workforce and better support justice-involved Michiganders round out our list of state budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

We know that we are in challenging times, but we also know that our state leaders can rise to the occasion and pass a balanced budget that centers the very real needs of the people of Michigan. To learn more about our state budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, you can visit https://mlpp.org/the-peoples-budget-2027-state-budget-priorities/.