Governor Gretchen Whitmer is pushing for free school meals to remain in the final state budget.
Whitmer on Monday served meals to students at Hamilton Early Childhood Center in Kentwood to highlight the program that started with the 2023-2024 school year. She said it helps ensure all students have a fair shake in school.
“I think it’s important that we designate dollars for lunch and breakfast,” Whitmer said. “If we don’t do that, we run the risk of some kids having access to meals and others not.”
The Michigan Senate budget preserves the free breakfasts and lunches for students, while the House budget doesn’t. Whitmer said when the budget does reach her desk, it will have to be some compromise between the two.
“Neither one of those are going to be the budget that gets to my desk. The budget that gets to my desk is one that we will all be negotiating together. And so it’ll probably bear some resemblance to certain things in one of their budgets and other budgets. And the budget that I introduced 130 days ago or 230 days ago, however many days it’s been. I introduced it in February. That’s what negotiation is.”
The cost to the state for free school meals in the 2025 budget was $200 million. Whitmer says it’s worth the investment.
Senate and House lawmakers continue their budget negotiations as the deadline for a state government shutdown on October 1 draws closer.
