LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Michael Webber on Wednesday joined the Senate in passing the state’s fiscal year 2024 spending plan — House Bill 4437, the general budget, and Senate Bill 173, the school aid budget.
“I came to Lansing to help solve problems and support residents and families across our district and the state,” said Webber, R-Rochester Hills. “This budget represents a compromise under slim Democratic majorities that is far from perfect. At the end of the day, this spending plan puts important dollars into education and school safety, needed investments in infrastructure and our state parks, increases revenue sharing for local communities, and works to pay down our long-term debts.”
In the final version of the budget, Webber helped to secure:
- A 19% operations increase for Oakland University to close the funding gap among Michigan’s 15 public universities.
- $200 million toward the state’s higher education school employee’s retirement system debt.
- Infrastructure investments, including $10 million for the construction of sound barriers along the I-75 corridor in Troy.
- Investments into state parks and local recreation projects, such as $1 million for the Utica Pioneer Park pavilion and pedestrian bridge, a $1 million recreational grant for Sterling Heights and $900,000 for a cricket field in Troy.
- $40 million for the Macomb County Jail.
Webber also highlighted that significant investments were made into special education initiatives and school safety grants as well as a 5% increase in the per pupil foundation allowance — up $458 to $9,608 — for K-12 schools.
“Michigan students continue to play catch up from extended COVID closures during recent years, it is important that we work to provide schools and parents with the resources they need to help their students thrive,” Webber said.
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