LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is providing new details on her annual budget proposal, her final after serving eight years as Michigan’s governor.
Materials released by Whitmer’s office say that the governor plans to push for a continued rollback of the state retirement tax and new property tax relief for senior citizens.
The governor estimates that the policies could save seniors hundreds or thousands a year.
Lana Payne, director of the Grand Traverse Commission on Aging, says that any savings for senior citizens — especially those on fixed incomes — can go a long way.
“We see on a very regular basis the fact that many of our seniors have to juggle and have to choose between rent payments, house payments and groceries, medical bills,” she said. “They’re always juggling to make their social security checks cover all of their expenses, and it’s a daunting task.”
The governor will unveil her final budget proposal this Wednesday in Lansing. That will kick off the process of lawmakers deciding how to divide tens of billions in state revenue.
Whitmer is also delivering her final State of the State Address on Wednesday, Feb. 25.