State budget deadline nears

With the deadline to approve the state 2026 budget fast approaching on Oct. 1, lawmakers are hoping to come to a consensus within the next week before a potential government shutdown.

The Oct. 1 date comes after the Michigan legislature missed the statutorily required deadline of July 1 to pass its annual budget, creating uncertainty for government entities/agencies that receive federal funding.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2026 budget proposal in February, which included all state and referral revenue, totaled $83.5 billion. Within that proposal, the state’s total general fund budget is $15.3 billion, and the school aid budget is $21.2 billion.