Governor Whitmer’s Budget Recommendation

On February 8, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released her fifth executive budget recommendation of $79 Billion that “will lower costs, grow Michigan’s economy, and build a brighter future for anyone who wants to call Michigan home.” The Governor and State Budget Director Christopher Harkins outlined the proposal to a joint session of the Senate and House Appropriations committees.

As we have seen in years past, the budget for the Library of Michigan has essentially remained flat with only cost of living increases for staffing, and no increases for operations, services or the Michigan eLibrary. State Aid to Libraries also remains flat at $15,567,700. We hope that the Governor’s budget is the “floor” by which we will be able to work with our legislators to raise the “ceiling”.

We are encouraged to see $800,000 for the Library Pilot Project remaining in the Governor’s budget for the next two fiscal years. This partnership encourages school and public libraries to collaborate through grants of $10,000/per school facility. While only half of this amount was expended in the past fiscal year in three of the four counties identified for the pilot, we will be working to update the language to be more inclusive of additional counties to better align with continuing appropriations.

We are also awaiting word on the one-time appropriation of $100,000 that continues to be included in the Governor’s budget to name a Poet Laureate for Michigan that will be working with the Library of Michigan.

Funds outside of the Library of Michigan budget that we are also watching are $300 Million for tutoring through the MI Kids Back on Track program as well as the afterschool funding that included libraries as one of the eligible grantees last year. The recent FY Executive budget includes $25 million to support youth access to before, afterschool and summer learning programs.

View the FY 2024-2025 Executive Recommendation General Omnibus Budget Bill (PDF)

Photo credit: Michigan College Access Network