Supplemental plan protects most vulnerable residents, key services

State Rep. Douglas Wozniak, of Shelby Township, today underscored a signed proposal that restores funding for key services in southeast Michigan.

The signature from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer chips away at an original veto of nearly $1 billion in Legislature-approved funding for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

“I was glad to have worked with my colleagues in the Legislature to help bring this funding back and get it across the finish line,” Wozniak said. “We needed to fight for these essential services and do so without encouraging a tax increase. I’m happy both of those stipulations were carefully followed as we went about this process for our current fiscal year.”

Restored within the plans includes $400,000 for a pilot program for Alzheimer’s Disease in 10 different counties, including Macomb. The initiative will include a 24/7 helpline, continued care consultation and referrals to support groups and other community-based services for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia and their families.

Secondary road patrol funding will also be protected, helping keep the streets of Michigan’s communities safer. County sheriffs will have the ability to hire additional personnel to patrol local roads throughout the state. All funding for the program was initially cut within the governor’s vetoes, creating the likelihood of layoffs.

Other restored funding measures include:

• $1 million for the Autism Navigator program helping connect families with services.

• $350,000 for a new autism intervention program to help infants and toddlers with developmental delays.

• $16.6 million for rural hospitals and additional money for providers and critical access hospitals serving Medicaid and low-income patients.

• Loan repayments to primary care residents if they work in underserved areas in specialties that consist of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, general OBYN, psychiatry or general surgery.

• $500,000 in grants for mental and physical health maintenance programs for seniors in senior centers.

• Restored tuition grant money for 17,000 independent college students.

• $10 million for school safety grants.

• $10.7 million to improve pediatric psychiatric services

• Nearly $2 million to continue the fight against opioid drug abuse

“I will continue to fight for funding for needed programs for our residents in Macomb County and residents of the state of Michigan,” Wozniak said.