Governor Gretchen Whitmer is looking to increase the construction of new housing and get more people on the path to an education in 2024. She delivered her State of the State address Wednesday night, covering legislative victories from the past year while looking ahead.
Whitmer started with rising costs, saying Michiganders need to know their biggest expenses will be covered when their paychecks hit their accounts. She proposed investing nearly $1.4 billion to build or rehabilitate 10,000 homes in the coming year.
“Right now, too many families spend more than half of their income on their rent or mortgage,” Whitmer said. “Our housing stock is old. Nearly half of all units in Michigan were built before 1970. Young people cite housing affordability as one of their top concerns.”
Whitmer also proposed new $1,000 to $2,000 rebates for new vehicle purchases and a new caregiver tax credit for those who care for sick loved ones.
Turning to education, Whitmer called on the Legislature to make the first two years of community college in Michigan tuition-free for every high school graduate.
“If you get an associate’s degree, you can earn $23,000 more a year. The best paying jobs today, and in our future economy, require some education after high school. So, we must support our kids from pre-K through post-secondary to prosperity.”
Whitmer also called for pre-K education for every 4-year-old in Michigan.
The governor closed with plans to increase manufacturing in Michigan. She’s proposed the HIRE Michigan Fund to lower payroll taxes for small and second stage businesses and a new Innovation Fund to invest in startups.
