LANSING, Mich. -- The state budget passed by the Michigan Legislature around 3 a.m. Friday morning provides about $1.1 billion dollars in extra funding for state roads and bridges.
The state Senate approved a 24-percent wholesale tax on marijuana sales to help with that. About $24 billion of the $82 billion total budget will go for education. The budget includes about $5 billion Medicaid provider tax revenue that is being shifted into contingency funds.
Governor Whitmer said on West Michigan's Morning News she's pleased that the new state budget includes nearly 2-billion dollars in annual and one-time funding for road repairs.
"This is a significant, sustained level of funding that will help us make the roads and commuter safer," she told WOOD Radio. "It will help with the local roads. Everyone sees the orange barrels on the highways, but their local roads are not great. This will help with that."
The state Senate approved a 24-percent wholesale marijuana tax that will generate about $420 million for roads and education.
State Representative Bryan Posthumus of Rockford is the House Majority Floor Leader. He told WOOD Radio in a telephone interview that the budget bills will be on the Governor's desk as soon as possible.
"This is not a Republican budget, this is not a Democrat budget," he said. "This is a budget for the people of Michigan. It is a budget that everybody in Michigan can and should be proud of."
The state's 6-percent sales will be replaced in exchange for a 20-cent hike in the gas tax, bringing it to 51 cents. K-12 schools will receive a 2.5 percent hike. A separate budget of about $24.1 billion will go for K-12 school aid and higher education.
The state budget provides some tax breaks for overtime, plus tips and Social Security income.
"And save (state) Medicaid. But also deliver another historic high for the pupil foundation allotment of $10,050 per pupil. And free breakfast and lunch will continue," Whitmer said.
Posthumus said there are some significant cuts to fraud, waste and abuse in the state budget.
"To the tune of $2 billion. On top of that, we also funded roads on top of that - also to the tune of about $2 billion," he said.
Whitmer said she plans to sign the new state budget early next week.
"It is done, it's locked in," she said. "We had a continuation budget to hold us over (after the 2026 fiscal year began at midnight on Oct.1) while it took us a couple extra days. But it's tough negotiation. But I'm proud we brought everyone together and we got it done. And, at the end of the day, it's a darn good budget."
"The entire time I've been in the Legislature, this is the budget I'm most proud of," Posthumus said.
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[Dave Wheaton contributed to this story]