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Rep. Hall: Budget plan will benefit greater Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas
RELEASE|May 5, 2022
Contact: Matt Hall

State Rep. Matt Hall this week voted to approve a state budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year that provides additional local resources and critical investments for key services.

“This is a comprehensive, well-rounded plan that looks out for people, families and communities so they can thrive in the years ahead,” said Hall, of Comstock Township. “These investments are critical at a time when people are struggling – and they will have long-lasting impacts.”

Hall specifically fought for $13 million within the budget proposal, using federal COVID relief dollars through the state fiscal recovery fund, that will work to redevelop riverfront areas in downtown Battle Creek. The funding will go toward making the area look more natural – removing remnants of industrial plants, an aging concrete channel and other structures, and additional needed makeovers.

Hall highlighted other elements of the advancing plan, including:

New water projects: The budget plan commits resources to drilling studies and geological surveys for localized water availability. Hall said he has spoken with farmers throughout Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties who can’t get well permits because of inaccurate hydrogeological data, and that more accurate, local data will be a common-sense reform. One-time federal funding will be provided for core drilling, data collection, monitoring wells and project oversight.

Resources for local colleges: Western Michigan University would receive nearly $13 million to help with retirement benefit obligations through the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System, freeing up resources for the university to use on other projects. WMU would also receive another $12 million for the Michigan Geological Survey. The agency has been housed at WMU since 2011, utilizing the school’s storied history of geological research, education and data development. The agency will oversee data collection and mapping from new drilling projects that come from the budget plan.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Kellogg Community College would see funding increases of 9.8 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively, compared to current fiscal year funding. In addition, KVCC, Kellogg and other community colleges throughout Michigan would be able to access $10 million in one-time federal funding through the Community College Academic Catch-up Program to address learning loss stemming from COVID-19 shutdowns. The initiative will make grants available to support summer educational programs at community colleges for students entering college during the 2022-23 school year.

Ramping up public safety: Hall has worked with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Thomas Albert to include a $100 million grant program within a State Police budget proposal for local governments to apply for upgrades to emergency communication networks, including towers, radios, 9-1-1 services and other key infrastructure. The House budget plan also boosts resources for a variety of law enforcement recruitment and retention efforts with $125 million in funding. Hall has talked with local first responders and law enforcement officials to determine what they need to keep their communities safe, and the budget plan reflects these needs.

The House K-12 plan includes a record-high school aid fund of nearly $20 billion, including a per-pupil foundation that is up $300 per student from the current year and more than $2,000 than from a decade ago. In addition, the budget includes more than $500 million for teacher recruitment/retention, $300 million in school safety initiatives, $210 million for special education cost reimbursements, $100 million for summer programs to help kids who have fallen behind academically catch up, and more resources for rural transportation.

Additional support for kids that Hall helped secure includes $5 million for pediatric psychiatric care in Kalamazoo County, which will be allocated through an open application process.

The budget plans commit nearly $6.8 billion to Michigan’s roads – including a $750 million investment in the local roads and bridges connecting our driveways to highways – while also boosting workforce development and working to bring annual tax relief starting in the upcoming fiscal year to combat inflation and rising costs.

The measures now move to the Senate for further consideration.

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