Harris secured more than $2.8 million in projects for his community

State Rep. Mike Harris this week cast a key vote to secure House passage of its budget proposal for next year, which includes major investments in infrastructure and public safety while ensuring state departments receive funding based on actual spending needs. The budget also includes more than $2.8 million for two projects Harris championed to improve public infrastructure and emergency services in Oakland County.

“Our House budget shows everyone in Lansing and across Michigan that House Republicans are focused on the essentials as we move into negotiations,” said Harris, R-Waterford. “We found ways to invest in infrastructure, public safety, education, and public health, all without raising taxes. State government already has enough of our money – we just have to fix the way it’s being spent.”

After last year’s bipartisan agreement added more than $2 billion in ongoing road funding, the House budget adds another $100 million to continue addressing Michigan’s road funding gap. The plan also includes an additional $10 million for the Public Safety Trust Fund, a $65 million increase in revenue sharing for local governments, and funding for an additional youth mental health treatment facility.

The House plan also prioritizes responsible budgeting that focused on spending taxpayer resources based on recent data, rather than just whatever state departments have historically asked for. For years, state departments have requested increasingly bloated budgets that have led to roughly half of all line items in the entire budget to be overfunded, totaling $2 billion. Harris and House Republicans rejected the status quo and built a budget focused on actual spend, ensuring every dollar is being put to the best use.

Harris also secured more than $2.8 million in projects for Oakland County communities. While the House plan is not the final budget, the projects being included in the House version is the first key step toward securing the funding in the final budget as well.

Projects Harris successfully advocated for include:

• $2 million for construction of a fire station in Waterford Township
• $834,400 for downtown revitalization to improve walkability and pedestrian safety in the Village of Clarkston.

“Having served in law enforcement for so many years, I cannot overstate the importance of supporting our local first responders,” Harris said. “Securing projects like this fire station for Waterford Township and these improvements in the Village of Clarkston will help make our communities safer for everyone.

“The job isn’t done, but I am confident that any Senator or the governor would recognize these projects as worthy investments in next year’s state budget.”

The budget process continues as the House proposal moves to the state Senate for further consideration.

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