by orionontv | May 16, 2025 | Regional News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2025
Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167
Returns for some retirees up by average of $600, for working families up $900, total of more than $2.98 billion in refunds delivered to Michiganders
LANSING, Mich. – State individual income tax refunds increased for Michiganders during the 2025 tax filing season, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury (Treasury).
Nearly a month since the April 15 “Tax Day” deadline, more than 3.5 million refunds were issued at an average of $843 per return, up 50% since 2022. To date, Michigan has issued more than $2.98 billion in refunds.
“Working families are getting the tax relief they deserve,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Our work to roll back the retirement tax and quintuple the Working Families Tax Credit has already saved hundreds of thousands of Michiganders on their taxes and put more money back in their pockets. Our average refund for individual filers is up to $843, which is up 50% in three years, meaning more families can pay the bills, put food on the table, or save for a rainy day.”
This filing season, 207,000 retiree tax returns saw increased refunds because of the retirement tax changes. Refunds for these retirees jumped nearly $600 on average, distributing roughly $120 million. In addition, the Homestead Property Tax Credit increased about $70 million, providing additional refund relief to taxpayers due to increasing housing costs.
The quintupling of the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families has also meant an average refund of $900 for working families.
“The Michigan Department of Treasury is committed to issuing refunds as soon as practical,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “My team has worked hard to ensure taxpayers receive their refunds in a timely manner. Putting more money in the pockets of Michiganders helps as we navigate federal policy uncertainty.”
In 2023, Governor Whitmer signed legislation to quintuple the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families and roll back the retirement tax.
To learn more about Michigan’s income tax, go to www.michigan.gov/incometax.
State Individual Income Tax Filing Season Statistics (2022-2025) *
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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Total Returns Processed
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4,373,726
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4,389,377
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4,385,046
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4,419,226
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Refunds Processed
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3,064,523
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3,203,498
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3,623,806
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3,536,700
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Total Refund Amount (in Millions)
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$1.72 billion
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$1.96 billion
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$2.64 billion
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$2.98 billion
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Average Refund
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$560
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$614
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$728
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$843
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*As of mid-May in each year.
by orionontv | May 16, 2025 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Makes Appointments to the Bench
LANSING, Mich. —Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointments of Judge Aliyah Sabree and Nicole Castka to the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County.
“Today, I am proud to appoint Judge Sabree and Nicole to the bench,” said Governor Whitmer. “Both of these skilled legal professionals bring years of experience to their new roles, where I am confident they will serve the people admirably and uphold the rule of law.”
Third Circuit Court– Wayne County
Honorable Aliyah Sabree currently serves as chief judge pro tem at the 36th District Court in Detroit, where she has served since her appointment to the bench in 2017. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Sabree worked as an associate general counsel at the Detroit Water and Sewage Department, as a liaison to the City Council at the Detroit Mayor’s Office, and as an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor.
Hon. Aliyah Sabree earned her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Youngstown State University.
“It is with extreme gratitude that I accept Governor Whitmer’s appointment to the Third Circuit Court bench,” said Judge Sabree. “I look forward to serving the Wayne County community with dedication and integrity.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following Judge Charles Hegarty’s decision to vacate this seat. Judge Sabree’s term will commence on June 9, 2025, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2027.
3rd Circuit Court – Wayne County
Nicole Castka is a sole practitioner focused on criminal defense at the Law Office of Nicole L. Castka, PLLC., in Detroit, which she founded in 2003. Castka is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association, the Michigan Association of Justice, Women Lawyers Association, and the Detroit Bar Association. She is also an alumnus of the National Criminal Defense College.
Nicole Castka earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Otterbein College.
“I am so deeply honored and grateful for the trust put forth by Governor Whitmer and her office to give me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Wayne County in a much deeper capacity than I have been able to in my private practice,” said Castka. “I will ensure that all parties appearing before the bench will be treated with dignity and respect and that justice will be upheld.”
This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mariam Bazzi. Castka’s term will commence on June 30, 2025, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2027.
by orionontv | May 14, 2025 | Regional News
Governor Whitmer Signs Bills Increasing Transparency for Candidates and Elected Officials, Supporting Free and Fair Elections in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills that will increase transparency and good governance in Michigan by clarifying and expanding reporting requirements for candidates and elected officials. These bills bolster Governor Whitmer’s commitment to increasing transparency in Michigan’s government by ensuring elected officials disclose conflicts of interest to the public. Including today’s legislation, Governor Whitmer has signed a record 1,504 bipartisan bills into law since taking office.
“Michiganders deserve to know how their government is working for them,” said Governor Whitmer. “That’s why I’m proud to sign Senate Bills 99 and 100, so we can cut confusing red tape, help more Michiganders run for office, and increase transparency in our government. By getting this done, we can keep building on the progress we’ve made to fix the damn roads, improve education, build affordable housing, and more. Together, let’s keep making a real difference for people across the state.”
Senate Bill 99, sponsored by state Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), increases transparency in Michigan’s government by requiring public officers to report the source of unearned incomes, including gift, travel, and charity payments. Specifically, this bill clarifies that public officers must disclose gifts that are required to be reported by lobbyists and lobbying firms. The bill also extends the deadline to file disclosures to June 13. By increasing transparency in lawmaking, this bill will ensure Michiganders’ interests are prioritized over external influences.
“Voters demanded more openness and transparency in state government by passing Proposal 1 in 2022 and we led the charge in the Senate to implement Michigan’s first-ever financial disclosure report for state officials last year,” said state Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield). “This year, we’re building on that progress by adding further required disclosures while making it easier for filers to submit the form and for the public to access it. This new law continues to deliver on the promise of Proposal 1.”
Senate Bill 100, sponsored by state Senator Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), supports free and fair elections in Michigan by ensuring reporting requirements for candidates are clear, cutting unnecessary red tape within our election system. Specifically, the bill modifies and clarifies the process for financial disclosure, ensuring the Secretary of State’s office can properly submit the reports required to verify a candidate for office. The bill also extends the deadline to file disclosures to June 13. This bill will address past user errors, ensuring more Michiganders can run for office in our state.
“The citizens rightly demanded more accountability of their elected representatives, but bureaucracy has been making it very difficult and expensive,” said state Senator Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan). “I thank my colleagues and the Governor for supporting these simple fixes.”
Supporting Transparency and Good Governance in Michigan
Governor Whitmer is committed to ensuring that Michiganders have a transparent, responsive state government, and can make their voices heard at the ballot box. Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has:
- Voluntarily disclosed public calendars, federal income tax returns, and personal financial information.
- Signed executive directives to:
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by orionontv | May 14, 2025 | Regional News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2025
Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167
More Than $150 Million Returned to Rightful Owners and Heirs Last Fiscal Year
LANSING, Mich. – While trees are in full bloom and many Michiganders are in the midst of spring cleaning, Michigan Unclaimed Property is also getting into the act, rolling out a fresh new look and feel of its own.
Visitors to Michigan Unclaimed Property’s website will find an updated design, highlighted by refreshed colors, better usability and easier-to-follow directions for claiming property.
“I encourage individuals and business representatives to visit our refreshed website to see if we may be holding property in their name or in the name of their business,” said Terry Stanton, who oversees Michigan’s Unclaimed Property Program. “Our unclaimed property database is updated throughout the year, so just like spring cleaning, an annual check of our site is always a good idea.”
Michigan Unclaimed Property, within the Michigan Department of Treasury, is the custodian of millions of dollars in lost or forgotten assets, including dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, stock certificates, and valuables left in abandoned safe deposit boxes. These properties are turned over to the state once they are determined to be lost or abandoned, as required by law.
Michigan Unclaimed Property then works to reunite the properties with their rightful owners — or the owners’ heirs.
Michigan Unclaimed Property returned more than $150 million to rightful owners or their heirs last fiscal year.
Listen now
The Treasury Talk PODCAST, hosted by State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks, features Stanton and Unclaimed Property in a recent episode: “How to Find Your Missing Money.”
Listeners are encouraged to search Michigan.gov/UnclaimedProperty for themselves and for family members – this time of year, some extra cash is always nice when planning a spring vacation.
by orionontv | May 13, 2025 | Regional News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2025
Contact: Cheri Hardmon
HardmonC@Michigan.gov
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Secretary Benson stands firm on protecting Michigan’s election security information
Department of State upholds legal duty to protect sensitive information, releases 300 additional pages of documents to House Oversight Committee
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson upheld her obligation to protect sensitive information related to election security in response to legislative subpoenas issued by Michigan House Committee on Oversight. The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) provided an additional 300 pages of materials to the committee that are available for public review at Michigan.gov/ElectionTransparency.
“I believe in oversight and transparency and that’s precisely why our department has voluntarily complied with this request, providing thousands of pages of documents used to train and educate our local clerks,” Secretary Benson said. “However, I also have a duty to protect the security of our elections from politicians seeking information that would enable someone to interfere with the chain of custody of ballots, tamper with election equipment, or impersonate a clerk on Election Day. We’ll continue to work with the chair of the committee to explain these realities and we’ll do the same in a court of law.”
With the additional documents released today, MDOS has provided more than 3,300 pages of election administration training documents to the House Oversight Committee. This is the fifth time in as many months that the department has released documents initially requested by the Chair of the House Committee on Election Integrity.
READ: Letter to House Committee on Oversight – Michigan Department of Attorney General
MDOS will continue to release additional materials to the committee and on the public site once the department’s legal and election security teams have reviewed them and redacted any sensitive information within those materials.
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by orionontv | May 12, 2025 | Regional News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gov. Whitmer Statement After Securing Massive Federal Commitment to Protect Great Lakes Economy
President takes executive action to recommit federal support for Brandon Road Interbasin Project that will protect Great Lakes, Midwest economy weeks after Governor advocated for it in White House meeting
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in support of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (“Brandon Road”). The president’s action comes just weeks after the governor raised the issue with him in Oval Office meetings. Michigan is funding half of the 10% non-federal cost share of the project, together with the State of Illinois, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leading on construction. The transformational effort will help stop invasive carp from moving into the Great Lakes, protecting Michigan’s maritime economy. Brandon Road has been a top Michigan priority for over 20 years, and after a long process and relentless advocacy, it is finally getting done.
Governor Whitmer Statement
“Today, Michigan scored another huge win that will protect our Great Lakes and secure our economy. After years of advocacy alongside our partners in Illinois and together with a wide range of stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels, we now have renewed assurances from the Administration to move forward expeditiously on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. I am grateful to the President for his commitment.
“This game-changing project, built at a critical water junction, will protect the Great Lakes from invasive species of carp. These fish, if allowed to enter the lakes, would destroy the ecosystem below the water and devastate our economy above it. The Great Lakes are home to 3,500 plant and animal species and they support 1.5 million jobs that generate than $60 billion in wages a year across the entire region.
“That’s why I went to Washington, DC to advocate for this project face-to-face with the President at the White House. I am grateful that, in the midst of a lot of change at the federal level, he is confirming that our federal partners are as committed as ever to getting this done. It’s especially great to have yet another huge win with our U.S. Department of Defense on the heels of securing a new fighter mission last month at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.
“Michigan continues to win because we show up, talk to anyone, and work together to get things done.”
The Brandon Road Interbasin Project will implement a complex series of invasive carp and aquatic nuisance species deterrents. Located near Joliet, Illinois, it will sit at a critical pinch point to stop invasive carp from moving into the Great Lakes. Silver carp feed on plankton, a primary food for many native fish including walleye, yellow perch, and lake whitefish. They are voracious eaters, consuming up to 40% of their weight per day, and can reach up to 60 pounds, with each female producing up to one million eggs. In the Great Lakes, the silver carp would be likely to populate nearshore areas and large rivers, which would devastate sport and commercial fishing, threatening the $7 billion fishing industry in the Great Lakes. These fish also violently jump out of the water when startled, even resulting in injury to humans, and would harm the boating, tourism, and maritime economy. Silver carp have been reported in 12 states surrounding the Mississippi and Ohio River basins. Michigan has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois, and other Great Lakes states since 2011 to get this done. Important milestones along the way include:
- 2014: the Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Separation Study identified several options for separating the two basins. Subsequently, the Brandon Road lock and Dam site in Joliet, Illinois, was identified as the best location to prevent invasive species from entering the Great Lakes.
- 2018: the Brandon Road Feasibility Study was finalized, and Michigan committed $8 million to the project.
- 2020: a Planning, Engineering, and Design agreement was signed between Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Michigan supported Illinois as a nonfederal sponsor and contributed $8 million of the $10.1 million nonfederal funds required.
- 2022: a new cost for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project was estimated at $1.14 billion, requiring a 10% nonfederal cost share.
- 2023: appropriations in Michigan ($64 million) and Illinois ($50 million) meet the nonfederal requirement to begin construction of the project.
- 2024: Michigan and Illinois cosign a project partnership agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, securing the nonfederal cost share and paving the way for construction.
The project is supported by a large bipartisan coalition, including local, state, and federal officials on both sides of the aisle, conservation and environmental advocacy groups, hunters and anglers, tourism, maritime and boating advocates, and regional Great Lakes intergovernmental groups. The project has specifically been a top priority of the inter-state and international Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, currently chaired by Governor Whitmer.
Protecting the Great Lakes & Water
Michigan is home to 21% of the world’s fresh water. Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has taken action to protect the Great Lakes and Michigan’s tourism industry, both of which are critical to the state’s economy, history, and way of life. She signed game-changing clean energy legislation to enact a 100% clean energy standard by 2040 and protect Michigan’s precious natural resources. She established and funded the MI Clean Water plan, an over $4.6 billion investment to protect the Great Lakes from pollution and help communities across the state upgrade their water infrastructure. Michigan also continues to enforce the strongest Lead and Copper Rule for drinking water in the country and established health-based standards for PFAS in drinking water supplies.
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