State Rep. Sarah Lightner of Springport last night voted to restore critical funding for local communities and essential public services vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year.

Lightner is leading efforts to restore what’s known as “payment in lieu of taxes” from the state to local communities. These payments replace revenue lost on tax-exempt land owned by the state, including public-owned property controlled by the Department of Natural Resources. The plan approved by the House includes Lightner’s provisions providing a total of more than $27 million statewide in PILT payments – including money relied upon in Jackson, Eaton and Lenawee counties.

Lightner and the House also voted to restore funding for public safety, education, healthcare and other key services. The plan next heads to the Senate.

“We’ve got to ensure that everyone is on the same page going forward to end this manufactured budget crisis,” Lightner said. “We must finish this budget restoration process and do the right thing for Michigan and its residents. This vote is a significant step in that direction, and I’m optimistic that we will finally move forward together.”

The plan approved this week also:

• Restores $13 million that county sheriffs use to hire deputies to patrol secondary and rural roads. Last year, Jackson County received $182,970, Eaton County received $103,550 and Lenawee County received $115,995 – and each area was in line to receive even more this year.

• Restores nearly $15 million the governor vetoed from the county jail reimbursement fund. The money is paid to local counties in exchange for agreeing to house people in the county jail who normally would be sent to state prisons.

• Restores $4 million for the County Veteran Services Fund that helps connect veterans to the services they need in their local communities.

• Restores $750,000 for the Andy’s Angels program in Jackson County. This non-profit treatment program provides counseling and services for those batting opioid addiction and other substance abuse issues. This funding, in particular, is for a planned transitional housing facility for those trying to overcome their addiction.

• Restores more than $4 million statewide that helps counties cover indirect costs associated with helping children in foster care and the juvenile justice systems. Eliminating these resources will make it much harder to provide services for some of our most vulnerable children.

• Restores money the governor eliminated to support children with autism – including more than $1 million from systems designed to help families find services.

The plan also restores funding for Michigan’s farm stress program, people living with Alzheimer’s, many health care initiatives including support for rural hospitals, funding for school safety grants and other programs important to students and those who help educate them.

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