LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan lawmakers missed the deadline to pass the state’s budget, instead approving a temporary funding measure early Tuesday morning. The stopgap resolution authorizes $1.5 billion in spending through October 8 to keep government operations running while a final budget deal is finalized. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the measure around 4:00 a.m. on October 1.
“The Michigan state government will stay open,” said Governor Whitmer. “We’re on the verge of making huge progress to fix our state and local roads, feed our kids at school, cut taxes for seniors and working families, protect access to affordable health care, and keep Michiganders safe in their communities. In the meantime, state government will continue providing uninterrupted services and state employees will work today, getting things done for their fellow Michiganders.”
On Tuesday, lawmakers began the day waiting on a draft of the final budget, but pieces were still missing. Once it became clear that the plan would not be ready in time, state officials said operations would continue as normal — though without a clear legal path until the temporary measure was passed.
Governor Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D–Grand Rapids), and House Speaker Matt Hall (R–Richland Twp.) announced later Tuesday that a bipartisan budget agreement has been reached.
“The Legislature will pass a full fiscal year budget,” Whitmer wrote in an email to state workers. “All state government operations will continue as normal on October 1… you will get paid. Michiganders rely on you and the work you do every single day.”
Representative Dave Prestin (R–Cedar River) told WZMQ that progress came after Senate leaders agreed to hold committee hearings on earmarks — or special project funding — a process House Republicans have pushed for since May. “We’re playing catch-up now for the sake of transparency,” Prestin said.
The Senate has scheduled a joint Appropriations Committee hearing for 12:00 p.m. Wednesday to review earmarks. Such hearings have not been standard in the past, but leaders on both sides say earmark negotiations have been a major holdup. While a deal is in place, parts of the final budget are still being drafted.
The timeline for the rest of the week remains uncertain. No sessions are scheduled for Thursday in observance of Yom Kippur, but the House has added an optional session day on Friday. Several related bills are also waiting in the Senate that must pass alongside the finalized budget.
