State rep announces $2.5 million for Broton Road, $26 million for Selfridge runway in state budget

Representative Joe Aragona updated the Macomb Township Board of Trustees on the recently passed state budget during the Oct. 8 meeting and highlighted allocations intended to affect the township.

"We got $2,500,000 for the Broton Road project," Representative Joe Aragona said, describing the appropriation as a top priority for the township. He also said Macomb-area lawmakers secured $26,000,000 for Selfridge Air National Guard Base to support runway extension work tied to the F-16E conversion.

Aragona said the House and Senate produced different versions of the budget and the two chambers had to merge them. He described steps to reduce inefficiencies at the department level, saying the House removed what he called "2,000 phantom jobs" from appropriations to prevent unused positions from effectively returning to general fund spending.

Supervisor Justin Viviano and other board members thanked Aragona for his work. Viviano said the board has been "more active, specifically with road projects" and that the funding will help the township move projects forward.

Aragona noted the governor had signed the school-aid budget and that final budget work wrapped up in the days before the Oct. 8 meeting. He invited questions from trustees on other budget items.

Why it matters: The Broton Road appropriation directly funds a township-priority road improvement. The Selfridge allocation is a regional military infrastructure investment that requires runway extension work. Both appropriations affect project planning and future procurement schedules in Macomb County and the township.