LANSING, Mich. (AP) — 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 new expansion of
Medicaid eligibility to more low-income adults and anticipated higher
tax collections in an improved economy.
The $3.1 billion funding
increase includes an overall 7 percent boost in revenue sharing to local
governments — with amounts varying depending on the community — 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 education spending plan in public
last week, Snyder was able to boast of four straight years of completing
the budget in June, at least three months before the fiscal year begins
Oct. 1. 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.
More than three-quarters of the budget is devoted to education and health and human services, he said.

"These are protections and improvements that affect every member of our state," Snyder said in
a statement.
The
governor exercised two line-item vetoes. Like last year, he again nixed
$1.5 million to explore putting barriers at crossings along a
higher-speed rail line in southwestern Michigan, saying "current traffic
control measures are consistent with federal standards."
Snyder
also removed $80,000 to study the feasibility of building a
pedestrian-only bridge over the Bear River in Petoskey, calling it an
"unnecessary" expenditure and noting a plan to raise more revenue for
road upkeep is still pending in the Legislature. He urged lawmakers to
keep working to pass road-funding legislation, saying it is a critical
issue affecting all residents and tourists and essential to accelerating
economic growth.
Bills that would more than double state gasoline
and diesel taxes stalled earlier this month before legislators
adjourned for much of the summer, and it is unclear if some lawmakers
could become more receptive to hiking taxes after the November election.
"It’s
unfortunate that Gov. Snyder signed a budget without fully funding our
roads and bridges," said Geno Alessandrini, business manager of the
Michigan Laborers District Council, which has been traveling the state
on a "Fix our Roads" tour. "We’ll continue to call on the governor and
the state Legislature to address the dire need for critical
infrastructure funding."
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark
Schauer, who will face Snyder in November, continued to criticize the
governor for his 2011 push to offset a major business tax cut in part by
eliminating tax exemptions on pension and retirement income for people
born after 1952.