Budget Basics
The FY 2026 budget season is starting off a bit differently, with the Governor’s State-of-the-State address scheduled for February 26, 2025. This is about a month later than in most years. The Governor’s budget will be released February 6, 2025. At that point we will begin our work on Budget Basics, by peeling apart the proposed budget to look at what is – and isn’t – included for Michigan’s kids and families. Stay tuned.
In the typical budget cycle, the governor’s budget is released in January/February, and the House and Senate begin work on their own budget bills. Budget negotiations typically peak in May and June, with a final reconciled budget passed in the summer months.
The annual budget, which decides how our state and federal governments spend our tax dollars, is the single most powerful expression of our governments’ priorities. While there are many competing interests and finite resources, changes in tax policies and the spending of state revenues can potentially change the odds for children and families who are already facing challenges.
Michigan’s Children believes the state budget should close equity gaps in schools, ensure adequate funding for services that target early diagnosis and treatment of disabilities, address child poverty through two-generation strategies, and target health/wellness issues that negatively impact Michigan’s kids. We focus much of our energy on impacting state budget discussions, but also keep an eye on what is happening at the federal level as it impacts our state.
It is important that we help legislators understand that critical programs for children, youth and families are neither pork nor partisan, and to encourage them to work together to utilize state funding in a way that benefits the most vulnerable among us.
