MICHIGAN

Snyder OKs $53.2B plan for next year

Medicaid expansion key in 6% increase

7/1/2014

LANSING — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Monday finished signing a $53.2 billion state budget that commits to spending 6 percent more than this year, largely because of Michigan’s expansion of Medicaid eligibility to more low-income adults and anticipated higher tax collections.

The $3.1 billion funding increase includes an overall 7 percent boost in revenue sharing to local governments along with money to train 100 new state police troopers and 31 new motor carrier officers, and hire 25 more conservation officers.

There is almost $200 million to help prevent steeper cuts in Detroit retiree pensions and the sale of art in the city’s bankruptcy.

By privately approving the $37.5 billion general budget bill the last day of the month after signing a $15.7 billion education spending plan in public last week, Mr. Snyder can boast of four straight years of completing the budget in June. The Republican governor — who has enjoyed GOP control of the Legislature his whole term — said it gives K-12 school districts and municipalities time to plan their budgets.