Michigan, we have a budget deal. But no tax relief yet, despite surplus

LANSING — The Michigan House and Senate voted early Friday morning to approve a major $76.9 billion state budget deal after Republican leaders reached an agreement with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The deal includes new money for school safety and teacher recruitment programs, local government debt relief, blight removal and more than $1 billion so-called pork funding for local projects. But it does not include any major tax cuts or rebates, despite a nearly $9 billion state surplus.

The budget, Whitmer said in a statement, “will grow Michigan’s economy and workforce, make record investments in every student and classroom, protect public health and public safety, expand mental health resources, and empower working families and communities.”

Whitmer and GOP lawmakers had both propos