Ice storm not forgotten in Michigan’s state budget. But will $14M be enough?

LANSING, MI – Lawmakers included $14 million for ice storm recovery in the new Michigan state budget.

The question is whether the ice storm money in Michigan’s 2026 state budget will be enough. The consensus is that it’s insufficient by a long shot.

The state’s nearly $76 billion budget for 2026 that lawmakers just finalized on Oct. 3 included $10 million for ice storm cleanup work. Additionally, there is $2.2 million for tree replanting and $2 million for efforts to reduce wildfire risk in the storm damage zone.

Officials said the cleanup dollars are the state’s required match amount for $50 million in federal disaster money . The budget awaits the governor’s signature.

State and federal authorities estimated the ice storm damage to public property and infrastructure at $137 milli