CHICAGO -- Gov. Rick Snyder said the new 2016 $54 billion budget will further Michigan's reputation as the "comeback state."
"This is an outstanding budget," Snyder said at a budget-signing press conference June 17 with legislative leaders and cabinet heads. "This was good government and we should be proud." The governor's office promoted the budget with a #5for5 hashtag, meaning it's the fifth time in five years that lawmakers have finished the budget months ahead of the state's Oct. 1 fiscal year.
The budget features a $95 million deposit into the state's rainy-day fund, bringing it up to $600 million. Snyder touted increases in school spending and payments into the state's retirement systems as well as a modest boost for the higher education budget.
The spending plan also sets aside $400 million for roads, one of the most controversial aspects of the budget. The $400 million in one-time roads money marks a failure of sorts for Snyder, who has pushed lawmakers for years to raise new revenue for transportation infrastructure.
Lawmakers are now expected to meet over the summer to try to hammer out a long-term transportation solution.
"We're going to work hard to get a permanent solution in place," said Snyder, later adding "this is a good middle step."
