Dear Friend,

Last week, the Michigan Legislature passed a balanced, bipartisan budget for fiscal year 2025 to support students, protect public safety, build more affordable housing, and help anyone ?make it? in Michigan.

This budget makes the largest investment in schools in our state's history ? for the sixth year in a row. We are supporting K-12 students with a $400 million increase in ongoing funding, $1 billion in one-time investments, and allocations that result in a 4% increase in per-pupil funding ? up $400 per student over last year.

We also deliver on the Community College Guarantee with this budget ensuring every high school graduate from the class of 2024 and beyond can earn a skills certificate or degree at their local community college tuition guaranteed. It'll save students over $4,800 and give them a path to a better-paying, high-skill job in a career they love. That is a big deal. We got it done. This budget continues the work we?re doing to support our students after they graduate by lowering the cost of 4-year college by thousands of dollars a year with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and continuing to provide tuition-free pathways to higher education for adult learners 25 and older.?

This budget also does a heck of a lot more to grow our economy, fix the damn roads, support first responders, and build more housing, while lowering costs and keeping more money in people?s pockets. Together, we are getting things done that make a real difference in people?s lives and ensuring everyone can ?make it? in Michigan.

We will continue to improve learning outcomes so every student can succeed.

A Budget for Better, More Affordable Education

As a parent, I know our kids are our number one priority, which is why this budget puts students first by making historic investments to improve learning outcomes from pre-K through college.

Check out the big steps we're taking in the fiscal year 2025 budget to support our students and invest in education:?

K-12 Education

• Allocations that result in a 4% increase in per pupil funding ? up $400 over last year.
• Continues providing free breakfast and lunch to all Michigan?s 1.4 million public school students, helping kids focus on learning while saving families $850 per year, per kid.
• Increased funding for student mental health, school safety, and after-school programs.
• Increases pay for teachers, continues support to offset the cost of student loans for educators, and supports aspiring educators with the MI Future Educator Program.?
• Access to free PreK for Michigan four-year-olds, prioritizing those that need it most. This will save families $10,000 a year.

Higher Education & Workforce Development

• Delivers on the Community College Guarantee to ensure every high school graduate from the class of 2024 and beyond can earn a skills certificate or associate degree at their local community college tuition guaranteed, saving more than 18,000 students up to $4,820 on tuition each year.
• Increases funding for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship to lower the cost of college by thousands of dollars a year?up to $27,500 over 5 years?for a majority of graduating high school seniors.
• Continues Michigan Reconnect, providing a tuition-free pathway to adult learners 25 and older.
• Additional support for university and community college operations. ??

The Michigan Legislature has passed a balanced budget that delivers on the kitchen-table issues that make a real difference in people?s lives without raising taxes by a dime. Together, we are setting Michigan up for success.

I look forward to reviewing and signing this budget later this summer. I'm excited to share more about how we are building a brighter future for Michigan.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor