We welcome key elements of Governor Whitmer’s budget, including funding to improve infrastructure, provide resources to K-12 schools and the state’s universities, and invest more in economic development incentives to help win jobs and new businesses. We look forward to working with legislative leaders and the Governor to ensure the state uses our once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest and transform. In five, 10, 20 years, we want to be able to look back and say we made the right choices to secure the future for all Michiganders.
Following the release of the Governor’s executive budget recommendation, we urge the administration and legislative leaders to consider whether the investments we make today will help change Michigan’s trajectory. Business Leaders for Michigan’s recently released benchmarking study shows the state has one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the country (ranked 41st) and the state’s educational attainment rate, while improving, has a long way to go (ranked 35th). Michigan must use one-time dollars and surpluses in a way that will help improve our education system over the long-term, make us more competitive for job growth, and help Michiganders get the skills and training they need to become more prosperous.
– Jeff Donofrio, President & CEO, Business Leaders for Michigan