The evening of Wednesday, June 17, the Legislature passed a $880.1 million spending bill, Senate Bill 690, which is soon on its way to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Fiscal Year 2019-2020 appropriations bill is anticipated to be signed by the Governor and dedicates mostly federal Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars.
Notably, the appropriations bill provides:
- $100 million in small business restart grants to help small business owners and nonprofit organizations across Michigan get back on their feet
- $29.1 million to hire 500 additional employees to address the backlog of claims at the Unemployment Insurance Agency
- $200 million for local communities across the state to address increased public safety costs during COVID-19
- $120 million for direct care workers, providing an additional $2/hour from now through September
- $125 million in day care subsidies to reduce child care costs for families
- $100 million in hazard pay for local first responders
- $60 million in rental assistance and eviction diversion
- $25 million for water utility assistance
- $25 million for devices, wireless hotspots, and connectivity for school children and their families
- $18 million for health and safety grants for schools
- $10 million in MIOSHA grants for protections to keep workers safe on the job
- $14 million for food banks, Double Up Food Bucks, and domestic violence shelters
- $2.5 million to a hospitality relief fund to provide grants of up to $500 to individuals employed in the industry as of March 10, 2020, who can demonstrate need
- More information here
Development of the budget for next fiscal year, Fiscal Year 2021, will be delayed as the state awaits further information to be collected at another revenue estimating conference in August.
