LANSING — A statutory deadline set by the legislature over a decade ago has been missed. In 2011, then Governor Rick Snyder urged the legislature to move up its passage of the budget so local schools and other units of government could plan.
Below is a list of dates the past ten budgets have been signed into law:
| Fiscal Year | Signed Into Law | Governor |
|---|
| FY 2016 | June 29, 2016 | Rick Snyder |
| FY 2017 | June 17, 2015 | Rick Snyder |
| FY 2018 | June 30, 2014 | Rick Snyder |
| FY 2019 | June 21, 2018 | Rick Snyder |
| FY 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Gretchen Whitmer |
| FY 2021 | July 13, 2021 | Gretchen Whitmer |
| FY 2022 | July 20, 2022 | Gretchen Whitmer |
| FY 2023 | July 31, 2023 | Gretchen Whitmer |
| FY 2024 | July 24, 2024 | Gretchen Whitmer |
What’s New in 2025
Governor Whitmer and Democrats held a trifecta the past two fiscal years and budgets were completed on time and balanced in July. However, in November of last year, Republicans retook the majority in the Michigan House of Representatives. Matt Hall was elected Speaker of the House and is the first Speaker since 2020 to miss the deadline.
What They’re Saying
Senate Majority Leader Brinks:
“We’re continuing to hear from school leaders … they want a better budget, not a fast budget.”
Speaker Matt Hall:
“I’ve been working on this for months … to try and get it done even if it was on 30‑minutes notice.”
School districts may be forced to make cuts as the fiscal year for schools starts on July 1. A group of education groups issued a statement warning of what could happen if this budget deadline was missed. The groups included The Michigan Education Association, Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, AFT Michigan, Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association, Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education, School Education Advocates of West Michigan, K-12 Alliance of Michigan, School Equity, Oakland Schools, Wayne RESA, Macomb ISD, Calhoun ISD and Genesse ISD.
“As the first week of June wraps up, school districts across Michigan still do not have the funding numbers they need to build their budgets. The fiscal year for school districts ends on June 30, and school boards are meeting over the next couple weeks to finalize their 2025-2026 budgets. However, they are being forced to do so without a clear indication from the state on what the per-pupil foundation allowance may be nor funding for our most vulnerable students, such as those who are economically disadvantaged, receive special education services or are English language learners. In addition, districts lack clarity around the many other programs that support student success.
We are weeks away from the start of the school fiscal year. The House has not released a full budget proposal. This major delay leaves little time for finalization before the statutory deadline. State law requires the entire state budget be presented to the Governor by July 1, yet this deadline appears to be treated more as a suggestion than a requirement. It’s past time for the Legislature to meet its obligation and provide districts the certainty they need. As districts work to plan for the upcoming school year, this delay complicates their ability to prepare for opening their doors in the fall. Uncertainty about funding levels leaves critical questions about staffing, programming, reading and tutoring supports, and basic student services unresolved.
We call on the House to release its spending plan and for lawmakers to come together and negotiate the School Aid Fund budget quickly. Getting the budget to the Governor is essential so our districts can confidently plan and provide the funding and support our students and educators need for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.”
