FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 7, 2025 Contact: press@michigan.gov
Gov. Whitmer Signs Balanced, Bipartisan FY26 Budget to Fix the Damn Roads, Cut Taxes, Lower Costs, Protect Public Health & Safety Balanced budget delivers on the kitchen-table issues including roads, taxes, health care, public safety, government efficiency, and protections for Michigan’s air, land, and water
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed her seventh balanced, bipartisan budget into law. The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget secures sustainable, long-term funding to fix Michigan’s state and local roads, tax cuts for seniors and working families, protections for core health care services, funding for public safety, investments in Michigan’s air, land, and water, and commonsense changes to improve government efficiency. The FY26 budget totals $81 billion, including a general fund total of $14.1 billion.
Additionally, as a part of the budget deal, Speaker Hall and Majority Leader Brinks agreed to pass bipartisan legislation before the end of the calendar year that will make it easier to create and retain good-paying, high-skill jobs in Michigan. Governor Whitmer called for commonsense, job creating legislation in the Mackinac Policy Conference keynote and several of her series of Road Ahead speeches this year. The legislation will help Michigan continue to lead the future of advanced manufacturing, regardless of the economic uncertainty at the federal level.
“This balanced budget delivers on the kitchen table issues that make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Governor Whitmer. “Our budget fixes the damn roads, cuts taxes for seniors and working families, funds first responders, secures core health care services that millions of Michiganders rely on, protects our air, lakes, and land, and increases government efficiency to saves taxpayers time and money. I’m so grateful to legislators on both sides of the aisle for coming together to get this done. Amidst so much uncertainty caused by a chaotic tariff strategy and a national government shutdown, Michigan is showing everyone how to get things done. In the weeks and months ahead, we will build on this momentum and come together on commonsense tools to create and retain good-paying jobs.”
“Our number one priority is helping more people afford to stay and succeed in Michigan, by providing access to health, jobs, and safety for their families,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “This budget does just that. It positions mothers and babies to be healthier and escape poverty. It helps seniors keep what they’ve earned by completing the rollback of the retirement tax. It tackles higher prices for working families by expanding the working families tax cut. It protects access to Medicaid for the millions of Michiganders who use it. With this budget, we are Standing Tall for a Michigan where everyone can afford to live a good life and raise their family. Let’s keep getting it done.”
“While this budget cycle featured unprecedented challenges, it also provided us the opportunity to show the rest of the country what leadership can look like in divisive political times,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. “The result: a bipartisan budget that fixes our roads, strengthens public schools, protects health care access, and insulates us from some of the toughest federal cuts. Michiganders and their communities stand to benefit both immediately and into the future because of groundwork we are laying today.”
“People are frustrated when they struggle to pay their bills while the government burns through billions of dollars of their money like it’s nothing,” said Speaker of the House Matt Hall. “Our state government spending has grown way beyond its means, and it’s time to rein it in. This budget makes a significant difference in eliminating waste, fraud and abuse to lower state spending and give the taxpayers better value for their dollars. That’s how we were finally able to get our local roads fixed and pass the public safety trust fund, all while eliminating taxes on tips, overtime and social security. You can do a lot when you take the time to evaluate state spending and set better priorities.”
“In Michigan, we’re proving that both sides can come together to do hard things, and I’m proud of the budget. It fixes the damn roads, protects Medicaid coverage for more than 2 million Michiganders, and invests in our kids from pre-k through college,” said State Budget Director Jen Flood. “At a time when families are dealing with higher costs, this budget builds on our record of fiscal responsibility by paying down debt and cutting taxes for seniors and working families.”
Legislator Quotes “House Democrats came to the negotiating table months ago ready to work and get a budget done–but we were also clear that Michigan schools, healthcare, and public safety were not going to be on the chopping block,” said House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton). “Michigan Democrats worked together to protect those key areas of the budget, and as a result we protected universal free meals and Medicaid, raised state trooper pay and increased Public Safety Revenue Sharing, and did so while developing a long-term road funding plan. This bipartisan, balanced budget was the result of months of work, but the fight continues now to ensure every person in this state has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”
“This budget represents our joint priorities with record investments in education; support for our law enforcement; putting Michigan families first; and fixing the damn roads,” said state Representative Ann Bollin (R- Brighton Township), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “I am grateful for the collaboration and bipartisan effort to deliver a budget that is fiscally responsible and responsive to the needs of people and businesses across Michigan.”
“The people of Michigan deserve a budget that prioritizes their well-being and economic prosperity, especially in the midst of political chaos we too often see coming from Washington DC.” said state Senator Sarah Anthony (D- Lansing), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This budget shows we can come together across party lines to fix today’s real problems – from fixing local roads and bridges, to protecting the social safety net, this budget keeps our state moving forward while keeping our people front and center.
Stakeholder Quotes “Together with our partners in the legislature and Governor Whitmer, we are investing in the infrastructure and assets that will move the State of Michigan forward,” said Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive. “With a new, sustained pool of funding, we will enhance our efforts to fix local roads. At Selfridge, the state continues to invest in the critical resources that will bolster operations to ensure that our hometown airbase will support a new fighter and tanker mission.”
“This historic, long-term road funding agreement is a game-changer for Michigan,” said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association. “After decades of short-term fixes and inaction, this budget delivers real, sustainable investment that will repair and rebuild our roads, save good-paying jobs, and strengthen Michigan’s economy. We’re grateful for the leadership of Governor Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, and House Speaker Matt Hall in getting this done. This is a major step forward, but our work isn’t over. We must continue building on this momentum to ensure Michigan’s roads remain safe, reliable, and well-maintained for decades to come.”
“The bipartisan, forward looking, state budget that the legislature passed and the Governor has signed delivers real results for Michiganders,” said Brent Pilarski, Business Manager, Michigan Laborers District Council (LiUNA MI). “Investing an additional nearly $2 billion annually in sustainable long-term road funding creates economic security for business expansion and careers in the construction industry. This budget demonstrates commitment to funding Michigan’s infrastructure and keeping skilled building tradesman employed in Michigan for decades to come.”
“We are grateful for Gov. Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Brinks and Speaker of the House Hall for their leadership in creating a budget that will continue to advance the health of individuals and communities throughout Michigan,” said Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. “This budget provides important state funding that patients, healthcare workers and hospitals rely on to maintain access to care and protect important healthcare services.”
“We’re relieved that state lawmakers were finally able to come to the table and reach a budget agreement, and that they and the governor were committed to doing what they could to protect Medicaid and SNAP for Michiganders,” said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Over 2.6 million Michiganders rely on Medicaid for health care, and 1.4 million count on SNAP to put food on the table, and in these uncertain times, it was crucial for our leaders to prioritize their well-being,”
“Thanks to strong bipartisan leadership, thousands of Michigan babies will now have access to the resources they need to grow up healthy, secure, and supported from the very beginning.” said Dr. Mona Hanna, director of Rx Kids and associate dean of public health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “This is a cutting-edge program that will propel the next generation and is a pillar of Governor Whitmer’s legacy.”
“On behalf of moms, babies and families in Michigan we are relieved to have a FY 26 budget in place,” said Amy Zaagman, Executive Director of the Michigan Council for Maternal & Child Health. “We continue to be grateful to Governor Whitmer for her leadership and to the Legislature for their dedication to key investments that are making a difference. The lowest infant mortality rate on record is a testament to what sustaining meaningful funding can do to save lives.”
Lowering Costs, Fixing Roads, Creating Jobs, Growing Michigan’s Economy Lowering Costs & Cutting Taxes
Fixing the Damn Roads (and more)
Growing Our Economy
Workers and Small Businesses
Leveling the Playing Field
Safe, Healthy Communities The FY26 budget strengthens the foundations of Michigan’s communities by investing in public safety, making health care more affordable and accessible, and protecting natural resources. These investments keep neighborhoods safe, ensure families can get the care they need, and preserve Michigan’s land and water for future generations: Protecting Public Safety
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Gov. Whitmer Signs Balanced, Bipartisan FY26 Budget
