Michigan's new state budget: 5 programs that could save residents money

The budget signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday expands a range of programs that could boost pay and lower costs for residents across the state.

The budget funds state government for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

Whitmer called the budget the "Make It In Michigan" budget and said it will ease the financial burden on Michigan households during a bill signing ceremony Monday. "This budget will lower costs and will deliver on the issues that make a real difference in people's lives and help everyone and anyone make it here in Michigan," she said.

Here's a look at some of the programs that could save Michiganders money.

Wage increase for direct care workers

The budget includes $140 million to fund a $0.85 per hour wage increase for direct care workers and non-clinical nursing facility staff in Michigan. Whitmer's initially proposed a higher wage increase, but lawmakers landed on a lower pay raise during budget negotiations.

Direct care workers include nurses, nursing assistances and respiratory therapists. Non-clinical staff eligible for the wage increase include housekeepers, dining room assistants and others.

Expand eligibility for Michigan Reconnect

Younger Michigan residents will be eligible to take advantage of a tuition-free pathway to higher education under the new budget. The budget includes $70 million to temporarily lower the eligibility age for Michigan Reconnect from 25 to 21. Michigan Reconnect provides free in-district tuition at a Michigan community college to earn an associate degree or skill certificate.

The eligibility expansion for Michigan Reconnect will enable an additional 350,000 Michigan residents to attend community college tuition-free, according to Whitmer's office.

Whitmer has set a goal of increasing the share of Michigan adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030.

More: Michigan budget expands tuition-free community college program for more residents

Food assistance

The budget includes funding for the Double Up Food Bucks program to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients access additional fresh fruits and vegetables at hundreds of locations across the state, including farmers markets, farm stores and grocery stores.

The budget includes $4.9 million for the remainder of fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024. The program was temporarily paused from late 2022 to early 2023, but the latest funding from the state will help the program continue, according to Fair Food Network, which piloted the program in Detroit 2009.

"We are grateful for this support from the Michigan legislature to help us continue to bring this essential community resource to Michigan in its current footprint – allowing families to bring home more healthy food, putting more dollars into the pockets of local farmers, and boosting local economies," said Kate Krauss, CEO at Fair Food Network, in a statement earlier this summer.

National Guard tuition expansion

Legislation Whitmer approved earlier this year expands the National Guard tuition assistance program to dependents. The budget includes $5 million to allow the Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Program benefits for servicemembers to be transferred to their spouses and/or dependent children under the age of 26.

The budget includes $5 million in additional funding to extend the tuition assistance program to National Guard members' spouses and dependents. The program helps pay for vocational or technical training, a certificate or an individual's first associate, bachelor's or master's degree. The legislation approved earlier this year also increased the maximum funding for the program from $10 million to $15 million.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 Michigan state budget: 5 programs that will save residents money