[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6744032,"mediaKeyId","5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3","parentId",5855798,"title","Michigan budget talks inch toward Oct. 1 deadline as lawmakers shore up Medicaid, school meals and roads","audioSeconds",4806,"startMs",82000,"endMs",4888000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3&start=82&end=4888","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3/thumbnail_82000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6744032/Michigan-budget-talks-inch-toward-Oct-1-deadline-as-lawmakers-shore-up-Medicaid-school-meals-and-roads","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744032-b1c545080e63e7412980e2f33648f30e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060200&Signature=dFgU0tIyJ7Z3kK4vfr2OKPkrDa4qKaxRppWXXXftLRJkm2MmDr~Re1q5z-I19sxmXfIJ4njgbGZqeYcJwLKHiBg0BwwgH3Ek2TPVbxmk5iujrPIdFZx7~oAsuxlIt5nvBYJJRKK2FwfagR8lzNu-y37SLMFasN~KaCMGaVxJRDlbVnP2VIZ7JvUCCNFprHnIebx2F~UU0ueSPTxb-5aLjRUJwK6AjePVoz0j1Z5tQLrhZdrlT8ZkBZ111qqKfEoLoOvNHa-iHIC-i5m6~u8LAZVQwNFVub5mNmggv3w2mQ5vwQmZq3gb-aZJjajxjluGbv3CM6~OV3cxpB-HZj~3XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Benton Harbor","date","2025-09-30T12:03:15Z","article","State Rep. Joy Andrews said Monday at a Benton Harbor town hall that lawmakers have taken steps to avert an immediate funding crisis as the state works to finish a fiscal-year budget before the Oct. 1 deadline.

\"We passed some revenue bills last Thursday,\" Rep. Joy Andrews said, describing legislation intended to plug holes caused by federal changes to Medicaid reimbursements and the end of federal support for school meals. \"That bill blew about a billion dollar hole in the state budget, from Medicaid alone.\" She added that Michigan will \"do our best to hold the line\" on Medicaid and related programs.

Andrews said the state also decided not to adopt federal corporate tax cuts, a move she described as \"revenue neutral\" rather than a tax increase, and that lawmakers used a combination of shifts and new measures to hold funding largely flat. She said one package creates a 24% wholesale excise tax on marijuana to help finance road funding, a choice she said she worried might not produce stable revenues and could unintentionally enlarge the black market.

The representative described last-week votes as largely bipartisan and said the measures aimed to secure Medicaid, school meals and other priorities while the legislature continues negotiating remaining details. \"I don't know that we're going to see expansions of programs this year,\" Andrews said. \"Given the state of affairs ... no cuts is a win.\" She said some budgets are expected to be essentially flat but noted the \"devil's in the details\" and that final text still needed review.

Andrews emphasized the local stakes: she said about half of births in Michigan are covered by Medicaid and warned that reductions in Medicaid funding could imperil rural hospitals and raise health-care costs for everyone. She estimated that changes could put several rural hospitals at immediate risk without state action.

Local officials at the meeting pressed Andrews on whether the newly proposed road revenues and public-safety dollars would be paired with cuts to constitutional or statutory revenue sharing. Andrews said the administration's presentation to legislators had been \"evasive\" on revenue sharing details and that cuts to unrestricted local revenue would be a serious concern.

The representative urged residents to stay engaged with lawmakers as the final budget text is released and to contact her office with priorities. \"If there's something you really care about and you want to see, please reach out,\" she said.

The town hall was a listening session, and Andrews said she expected to review the final budget text and press for protections she described as important for Benton Harbor and similar communities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Hall with Representative Joey Andrews","oneSentenceSummary","State Rep. Joy Andrews said Monday at a Benton Harbor town hall that lawmakers have taken steps to avert an immediate funding crisis as the state works to finish a fiscal-year budget before the Oct. 1 deadline.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6744017,"Proposed violence-prevention trust fund would lock in ongoing prevention dollars; Benton Harbor officials push for per-capita allocation",198,2130000,2328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3&start=2130&end=2328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3/thumbnail_2130000.jpg","/articles/6744017/Proposed-violence-prevention-trust-fund-would-lock-in-ongoing-prevention-dollars-Benton-Harbor-officials-push-for-per-capita-allocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744017-b23d89e7d6536a8c084e757e5c357345/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060200&Signature=fnejtj2HDTjTHhBLdtJvVPcBUSrbXgrHsqBH9NmUa7e~UfJiqPiz8Rb94PJnSGuKoR6Z2wMe4pXIAztRdTJH4xx4rkqZeuriO6jHemXcz9zLjUC19lVYzCJyW9s6Vg3duWpW5fNyPEN-sLAm4IFBrWfRM36kooCrjFq1zV~4t~qjozYChvy4VpS0YZFkn~vuWJHOJxnNPG7uo-AMi~AjJLEyKWfL~L-svO16QWBiFNpZlUsKAGvN00F1ccLe03LqnLkxn1nTBLxHW5K~d849uaXiSdS~JCgTgIJQIc9S-NCW9ONwG2~JlDT8RnPdSTe8UgeN4HLWsiERy1878B20ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Rep. Joy Andrews told Benton Harbor officials that a violence-prevention trust fund included in the budget framework would create an ongoing, dedicated revenue stream for prevention programs if the legislature approves the implementing bills.

\"One of the things we've been really having some conversations about with it too is the initial ... it's based on crime statistics using the amount of crime that happens in a community, based on the state per the state amount of crime,\" Andrews said. She argued a per-capita formula would better direct funds to smaller communities with high per-capita violent-crime rates, noting Benton Harbor had among the highest violent-crime rates per capita in Michigan last year.

Andrews said the fund is structured as a trust so money placed there would be locked and could provide stabilized, multi-year resources for prevention efforts rather than one-year appropriations. She said the Senate must pass implementing bills before that money can be spent and encouraged local advocates to contact senators to press for passage.

Benton Harbor Police Chief Scott McGinnis asked whether the initial amounts allocated to jurisdictions had fallen during negotiations; Andrews said the amounts were \"approximately the same\" under the current formula and that moving to a per-capita approach would increase allocations to some smaller cities.

The town hall discussion covered permitted uses of the fund, which Andrews said were intended for prevention activities rather than military-style equipment. \"You could use it to hire officers, you can use it for equipment as it pertains to prevention, programming,\" she said, citing examples such as in-school mentorship and community-based prevention programs.

Local officials said they would press the Senate to pass the implementing legislation so the budgeted funds can be accessed.","Representative Joy Andrews said a proposed violence-prevention trust fund would create guaranteed, ongoing dollars for prevention programs if implementing legislation passes the Senate.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6744022,"Lawmakers turn to marijuana tax to avert road-funding cliff; local officials worry about revenue sharing",2007,398000,2405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3&start=398&end=2405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3/thumbnail_398000.jpg","/articles/6744022/Lawmakers-turn-to-marijuana-tax-to-avert-road-funding-cliff-local-officials-worry-about-revenue-sharing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744022-64866f8db8e127f75ab6223c297bd234/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060200&Signature=iBaSkeiq2zW6DI1Sen8f5tMTWv5q1vDOzgTAiyheqe5dilsGXgN9hKinHsmgmbPcvlu4dq0fGXzHIwiKO5q43DUxAqvMMD2r71MCriFNa3PzpK3BZnrqVr~qYgUeYIYbhty-vr~dKITqybR051GZxxsA0waoLINenHUuGcaxf-gaKevbJjJ71RsXTq1Btd4cKb98CM7PsYLCy9Vmv-g0Wn5lfELy5bh-zwRrRgiO-u1jLdzgcMx75o1trNXh1LXhJ~Vt9YfKcnj6XtxBdJkf0B-mL7b16nC4DU~oSFH6EbyYTlEyia0AYhDYaPPwU7i1E7jMfihe26zz9yb~uOenrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Rep. Joy Andrews said the legislature considered a range of revenue options to address a projected roads funding cliff before settling on a package that includes a 24% wholesale marijuana excise tax.

\"We came up with a list of about 10 good revenue items,\" Andrews said, listing heavy trucking, diesel, a small gas tax, package delivery fees, digital advertising, billboards, rental cars, surface parking lots and marijuana. She said industry opposition and political constraints left marijuana as the viable option in the package.

Andrews said the state faced a minimum two-billion-dollar shortfall to preserve road repair momentum and that the state's 2020 bond program expires next year. \"If we don't find a way to fund roads ... a lot of the companies that do this work are gonna move equipment and manpower out of state,\" she said.

Local managers and commissioners warned the town hall that increasing restricted road dollars while cutting constitutional or statutory revenue sharing would amount to a shell game that leaves municipalities without the flexible funding they need. Andrews acknowledged the concern, calling the administration's presentation \"evasive\" on revenue-sharing details and saying cuts to revenue sharing would be a \"deal breaker\" for many local officials.

Representative Andrews also highlighted transit funding tied to the Act 51 formula and said the package included an increase for busing; she suggested that, if a larger revenue package were assembled, the state could fully fund transit for the first time in decades.

Andrews said she was worried the marijuana tax might not raise the revenue expected and that high tax rates can push consumers to the black market, citing California's experience.","State Rep. Joy Andrews said the legislature landed on a 24% wholesale marijuana tax to help avert a multi-billion-dollar roads funding shortfall, and local leaders pressed her about potential cuts to revenue sharing.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6744027,"Benton Harbor school leaders press Rep. Andrews to protect school meals, mental-health and ELL supports",1431,603000,2034000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3&start=603&end=2034","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5855798-9ef1ef5dd336e00b28453f2ad4208bf3/thumbnail_603000.jpg","/articles/6744027/Benton-Harbor-school-leaders-press-Rep-Andrews-to-protect-school-meals-mental-health-and-ELL-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744027-e775793e498dc1e2bc9eb903508916b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771060200&Signature=IfmTLyTlsAQw0LlfkXLRphxeCr4mP5XJnra6pofuoKXtcmCYFvsCtKooz3LYJ5XSbN~Hvx1AQPzw~hLIyODD50WNpshkarwKoQxYqkwG82tudd5YHIBjX9vbitGjZ8RSnLgMa1LVo6eXjKObkKndKH8MlJWUxVGvoOORAJU5ClfqGvhPhbv5HlH1ZigGWUS4nIdYOotJWzUXyaijM20KofyKUMrFjxBsB4qDcCzEqlUYfo9BGq8iyykBLGqChfU6WV4yWi0L2y9TslenYPT3~0P4c8Let58a-whU2Qdajg9WUbGxZFrP8U2rz6Yft8CaaST10LOLwr0c9znkklFttg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Rep. Joy Andrews told Benton Harbor school leaders on Monday that the pending state budget is likely to maintain categorical education funding and school meal programs, though she said final details depend on the budget text.

\"The governor told me to my face that school breakfast and lunches were being held intact,\" Rep. Joy Andrews said. She added that she expected only a small per-pupil increase and that \"most of the other programming\" would be held neutral from last year.

School board President Robinson and Benton Harbor schools Superintendent Dr. Griffin described local priorities: more ELL staffing, expanded MTSS and tutoring, crime-prevention funding tied to school safety and expanded trauma-informed mental-health supports for students.

Andrews said she would try to review budget language quickly and to flag line items that would threaten those programs. \"If there are cuts to be to those programs, we can try to put up a fight,\" she told school leaders, and offered to receive a short list of district priorities to advocate for while the budget text is released.

Audience members also raised the broader link between school supports and community safety. Andrews framed school meals and mental-health programming as foundational: \"Kids can't learn when they're hungry,\" she said, and noted shortages of school counselors and other staff were long-term workforce challenges.

The town hall did not include a vote on education items; Andrews repeatedly cautioned that she had not yet seen the final bill language and that many dollar figures cited at the event were summaries rather than the final appropriations language.","State Rep. Joy Andrews told Benton Harbor school leaders the pending state budget is likely to maintain categorical education funding and school meal programs, though final text remained to be seen.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Michigan budget talks inch toward Oct. 1 deadline as lawmakers shore up Medicaid, school meals and roads

Proposed violence-prevention trust fund would lock in ongoing prevention dollars; Benton Harbor officials push for per-capita allocation

Lawmakers turn to marijuana tax to avert road-funding cliff; local officials worry about revenue sharing

Benton Harbor school leaders press Rep. Andrews to protect school meals, mental-health and ELL supports