How Gov. Snyder’s budget proposal helps Michigan families in need

By Josh Paciorek

February 14, 2017

Michiganders have read the news coverage and seen the tweets — they know Gov. Rick Snyder’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposal will help keep Michigan on a clear path toward the future.

But what does the budget actually mean for Michigan’s families?

For the past six years, Gov. Snyder has focused his efforts on making our state an even better place to call home and raise a family, and his fiscal year 2018 budget continues those efforts in several different ways.

Taking care of Michigan’s families

Some of our state’s families need additional support from the state, and the Governor has proposed various ways to help those families in need.

In the fiscal year 2018 budget, Gov. Snyder recommended a clothing allowance increase to help children from low-income families, raising the amount of money they receive from $140 to $200 per year.

To help families put food on the table, the Governor also proposed $6.8 million for Michigan’s Heat & Eat program.

In addition, the Governor recommended $29.4 million to help improve the quality of child care around the state, through increased child care provider rates and other enhancements.

Helping families afford college

Sending a child through college can be expensive. The Governor’s fiscal year 2018 budget attempts to help families with those costs by providing additional funding for scholarships and tuition assistance programs.

A 21 percent increase for the MI Competitive Scholarship and MI Tuition Grant programs will support about 46,000 students. Another 10 percent increase for the Tuition Incentive Program will help about 18,500 low-income Medicaid-eligible students.

Providing support for at-risk youth

Ensuring every child has an opportunity for success is a priority for the Governor, which is why he proposed a 40 percent increase in funding to support at-risk youth. The additional $150 million will result in 131,000 more Michigan children being eligible for at-risk programs and services. The budget proposal also expands the definition of at-risk students to include free and reduced lunch income eligibility, children in families receiving food (SNAP) or cash assistance (TANF), and homeless and foster care children.

For more information on Gov. Snyder’s fiscal year budget, check out mi.gov/mibudget.